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CIVILIZATION 

■ 

OF THE 

INDIAN NATIVES; 

OR, 

& mitt mcto 

OF THE FRIENDLY CONDUCT 

OF 

WimmiAM 3HBHH 

TOWARDS THEM 
IN THE EARLY SETTLEMENT OF PENNSYLVANIA; 

The subsequent care of the Society of Friends in endeavouring to promote 
peace and friendship with them by pacific measures; 



A concise narrative of the proceedings of the Yearly Meeting of Friends, of 

Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and parts adjacent, since the year 

1795, in promoting their improvement 

AND GRADUAL CIVILIZATION. 



BY HALLIDAY JACKSON. 



" And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and 
they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations. — Isaiah lxi. 4. 

PHILJWELPHIA: 

MARCUS T. C. GOULD, No. 6, NORTH EIGHTH STREET. 

NEW YORK: - 

ISAAC T. HOPPER, No. 420, PEAIJI. STREET. 



1830 




Xs 



ADVERTISEMENT. 



Our readers have, no doubt, perused with satisfaction the numbers which haye 
appeared from time to time in this periodical, respecting 1 the Seneca Indians — their 
habits, superstitions, &c. The facts which these articles embraced, were rendered the 
more interesting-, by the late difficulties which had been manifested between the 
United States, and several southern and western tribes, upon the subject of their 
lands, and the right by which they held them in possession. 

Since the conclusion of these interesting numbers, we have been favoured by the 
writer with a more enlarged and particular narration, respecting the situation of the 
Indians, in the early settlement of this country — in which a concise view is presented of 
the proceedings of William Penn, in relation to them at the period of the first settle- 
ment of Pennsylvania. A very particular description is also given of the proceedings of 
the Yearly Meeting of Friends of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, &.c. touching the means 
adopted to increase their happiness, and improve their moral and physical condition. 
Many speeches, highly characteristic and beautiful, delivered by distinguished chiefs, 
in council, will be found interspersed through the narrative. 

Having concluded, in our last number, the works of William Shewed, we think 
we cannot better occupy, for a few weeks, the pages heretofose devoted to that work, 
than by appropriating them to the interesting subject, of which the above is an outline, 
and which the writer has kindly given us permission to publish. It may then be pre- 
served in the same manner as the works just completed, and will form a small but 
valuable book for all classes. 



PREFACE. 



Believing that some account of the measures pursued by the Society 
of Friends, towards the Indian natives, may prove an auxiliary in the 
cause of humanity, and probably interest the serious and benevolent 
mind in behalf of the aborigines of our country, whom we consider as 
children of one universal parent, who is no respecter of persons, but re- 
gards with equal care all nations, whether of a fair complexion or a tawny 
skin; I am, therefore, induced to believe that every thing relating to their 
history may prove interesting to posterity, when they shall be told that 
such a race of men, who may then have passed away, once inhabited 
this populous country. And having acquired considerable knowledge 
of some of the Indian tribes, and of the progress some of them have 
made in the arts of civilized life, I am induced to offer a concise view 
of the friendly intercourse that has subsisted between the society of 
Friends and the aborigines of our country, from the time the illustrious 
William Penn,and some of his cotemporaries first landed on the American 
shores, and exhibited to the world, the singular spectacle of establishing 
a new model of government, amidst a mixture of persons of different 
nations, and different civil and religious opinions, surrounded by savage 
tribes of Indians, without recourse to any coercive measures — which has 
since been the wonder and admiration of mankind. 

His great treaty, too, with the Indians, was also made without the 
solemnity of an oath, and has been immortalized as the only treaty, so 
made, that has never been broken. 

In most of the histories, in which we can trace the character of the 
Indian nations, we find them to abound either with romantic tales, or 
scenes of cruelty and barbarity, calculated to excite prejudice in the 
mind of the reader; but in this will be found the conciliating language 
of peace and mutual friendship, and a disposition on the part of the 
Indians, to exchange the tomahawk and scalping knife, for the plough 
and the hoe, and peacefully betake themselves to the innocent employ- 
ments of the pastoral and agricultural life. 

Although the author has spent but a small portion of time in a per- 
sonal residence among this people, in comparison with many others, yet 
he can acknowledge, that the short time devoted to that service em- 
braced some of the happiest moments of his early life. For, although 
deprived of the social comforts of society, and far removed from all the 
near and tender connexions of his youthful days, yet from a full con- 



viction of the rectitude of the work, and the incalculable good, under 
the divine blessing, that might finally result to that people, the wilder- 
ness was often made as it were an Eden, and the desert as the garden 
of the Lord. " Joy and gladness was found therein, thanksgiving, and 
the voice of melody." 

During the author's residence among the natives, as well as on several 
visits since that period, he had a fair opportunity of noticing the gradual 
improvement of the Indians, in some of the arts of civilized life, by 
which he is enabled to furnish, he trusts, well authenticated accounts of 
the benefits which have resulted to that people from the benevolent 
exertions of the society of Friends. And, although these exertions may 
appear to be limited in their operation towards a reform, yet when we 
take into view the numerous tribes of Indians within and circumjacent 
to the United States, there is reason to hope, that the instruction already 
afforded to several tribes, and the advancement they have made in some 
of the most useful arts of civilized life, will have a stimulating influence 
on their more distant brethren. 



A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE INDIANS, &c. 



The benign spirit of the gospel, operating upon the benevolent mind 
of that eminently distinguished character William Penn, induced him, 
at the very commencement of the settlement of Pennsylvania, to culti- 
vate, by the exercise of gentleness, kindness, and the love of peace, a 
good understanding with the natives; and in all his transactions with 
them, by scrupulously adhering to the law of universal righteousness, 
which dispenses justice to all, and infringes on the natural rights of none, 
he pursued the best means of establishing harmony between them and 
the new settlers, and thereby ensured their confidence and friendship. 

In a letter which he sent them by his deputy, previous to his arrival 
in America, dated Eighth month, 1681, he called their attention to the 
existence of a supremely good, all-wise Being, and to his law written in 
the heart, by which men are taught to love, help, and do good, one to 
another; and briefly informed them respecting his grant from the king, 
and assured them that he desired to enjoy it with their love and consent, 
that they might always live together as neighbours and friends. Then, 
in allusion to some of the other settlements on this continent, which in 
too many instances having been marked with injustice and oppression, 
were followed by melancholy and distressing circumstances, he pro- 
ceeded more at length to unfold to the motives and principles, by which 
he was actuated towards them, adding: " The people I send are of the 
same mind, and if in any thing any shall offend you, or your people, you 
shall have a full and speedy satisfaction for the same, by an equal number 
of just men on both sides, that by no means you may have just occasion 
of being offended against them." 

In the year 1682, William Penn first arrived in this country, and 
began to purchase land of the Indians, exemplifying the sincerity of his 
previous declarations, by giving them full satisfaction for every grant, 
accompanied with the best advice for promoting their comfort and 
happiness. 

Thus began that firm and lasting friendship with the natives, which 
continued during the life of William Penn, and with the religious society 
of which he was a member, for the space of seventy years; that is, as 
long as the society retained sufficient influence, effectually to interpose 
between the natives and the other inhabitants, so as to prevent misun- 
derstandings, or to redress such grievances as occurred. A friendship 
which to this day remains unobliterated between the society of Friends 
and the Indians who have knowledge of them, and is a standing proof 



that the gentle and upright conduct inculcated by the gospel, as exem- 
plified in the practice of William Penn, is a far more effectual means 
of preserving treaties inviolate, and insuring the permanent enjoyment 
of reciprocal benefits, than the system of violence, fraud, and oppres- 
sion too frequently resorted to, on such occasions. 

By this memorable treaty between William Penn and the natives, 
the parties mutually engaged to live together in peace and concord, as 
brethren of the same universal parent; and according to Indian customs, 
ratified the same by the usual token of a chain of friendship, which was 
not to be broken, so long as the sun and moon endure. 

William Penn had also many other conferences with the Indians, 
during his residence in the country, some of which were of a religious 
nature; and his conduct towards them was in general so engaging, the 
advice he gave them so evidently for their advantage, and his regard 
to justice so conspicuous, that he became greatly endeared to them : 
hence, the name of Onas, by which they distinguished him, (and still do 
the society of Friends,) has been transmitted from father to son, with 
much veneration and esteem. That such was the fact, much might be 
advanced as proof, which, with other circumstances in the subsequent 
behaviour of this people, demonstrate not only their sense of gratitude, 
but the extensive influence which justice, tempered by love, may have 
on the untutored mind. It may, however, be proper to state, that in 
the early settlement of Pennsylvania, when the country was almost an 
entire wilderness, and producing little for human sustenance but a 
scanty supply of natural fruits, and the wild animals of the forest, the 
new settlers were exposed to much hardship and difficulty in obtaining 
food — but their sufferings aud difficulties in these respects, were much 
alleviated by the attention and kindness of the natives, in supplying their 
necessities; not only extending their beneficence to those of the society 
of Friends, but generally to such as were under the patronage of William 
Penn — thereby evincing towards them the genuine spirit of hospitality 
— frequently visiting them in their houses. 

In the course of events, the society of Friends becoming mostly ex- 
cluded from the proprietory agency to which the management of Indian 
affairs had been chiefly committed, the trade with the Indians became 
corrupted, and they were frequently imposed on in the sale of their 
lands. Hence arose jealousies and a spirit of resentment in some of the 
tribes, situated north-westward of the settled parts of Pennsylvania. 
Hostilities ensued, and many of the inhabitants suffered, in conse- 
quence of a war which continued for several years. But notwithstand- 
ing the diminished influence which the society of Friends now possessed 
in public transactions, and the negotiations of treaties with the Indians, 
they did not relax their endeavours to improve every opportunity of 



cultivating a friendly intercourse with them, and promoting a peace- 
able disposition; for which purpose they formed an association among 
themselves, denominated the " friendly association for gaining and pre- 
serving peace with the Indians by pacific measures." 

To carry these benevolent views into operation, contributions to the 
amount of several thousand pounds were raised, which (with the go- 
vernor's permission) they applied in presents, and otherwise, in such a 
discreet and well timed manner, as, together with their conciliating 
demeanour and candour, which the Indians had often experienced, to 
have a happy effect in disposing them to hearken to terms of peace; 
which desirable event took place in 1775. 

About the year 1791, at which time a contest subsisted between the 
United States and several of the Indian tribes, a committee of the 
Yearly Meeting of Friends, held in Philadelphia, appointed for the pur- 
pose of representing the society during the recess of the Yearly Meeting, 
believed it right to address congress on the occasion, thereby showing 
the expediency of pursuing pacific measures, which had heretofore 
been found salutary and effectual, in securing peace and friendship with 
the original owners of the soil for the settlement of existing differences: 
at the same time, suggesting that if their religious instruction and 
civilization were rightly promoted, it might essentially contribute to 
conciliate the minds of the Indians, and restore harmony between the 
contending parties. Although the representation was well received, the 
measures recommended were not then adopted, and the calamities of 
war still continuing to prevail on the western frontiers of the states, the 
Yearly Meeting held in 1792, appointed a large committee to unite with 
the former, (commonly called the meeting for Sufferings,) to deliberate 
on the momentous subject, and, if practicable, to recommend such mea- 
sures as would be most likely to promote peace and friendship with the 
Indian tribes, and thereby prevent the further effusion of human blood. 

In the spring of 1793, deputies from several Indian nations visited 
Philadelphia, with a view of forwarding an accommodation with the 
United States, and government having agreed that a treaty should be 
held in the Indian country near Detroit, the summer following, these 
Indian deputies repeatedly urged, in several conferences, that some 
Friends should attend the negotiations, stating, " that the nations they 
represented had a special confidence in them as a people, who, from 
their first settlement in America, had manifested a steady adherence to 
the maintenance of peace and friendship with the natives." In accord- 
ance with the desire the society had long felt to promote peace, the 
proposition was acceeded to, and six Friends were deputed to accom- 
pany the commissioners appointed by government on this occasion, after 
having obtained the president's approbation, 



These Friends were present at several interviews with the commis- 
sioners, and about thirty Indian chiefs deputed from a grand council 
composed of a numerous body of Indians, made up of many different 
nations. They used what endeavours they could to prepare the minds 
of the Indians for a calm and deliberate consideration of the several 
subjects in controversy. But the Indians not being satisfied with the 
conditions held out by the commissioners as the terms of peace, the 
treaty proved abortive, and Friends were disappointed in having an 
interview with the Indians in general council. They had, however, 
reason to believe the Indians were generally made acquainted with 
their friendly motives and sentiments, and that their ancient attachment 
to the society was measurably renewed. 

Again, in the summer of 1794, Friends were invited by the repre- 
sentatives of the Six Nations to attend a treaty to be held at Canan- 
daigua, in the state of New York, and government approving the same, 
four Friends were deputed for that service, by whom a suitable address 
was sent, accompanied by some presents, as " a token (in the language 
of the address,) for you the descendants of the first inhabitants of this 
land of America, whom our forefathers found here after they had 
crossed the great waters." 

About sixteen hundred Indians were assembled on this occasion, and 
these Friends had an opportunity in their public councils, of endeav- 
ouring to impress their minds with a sense of the advantages to be de- 
rived from living in peace with one another, and with all men, and with 
the expediency of living a more sober and quiet life, that they might 
draw down the divine blessing upon them. These Indians still retaining 
a lively remembrance of the just and friendly treatment their fore- 
fathers met with from the first founder of Pennsylvania, continued to 
distinguish him by the name of Onas, and considered Friends as his 
descendants, expressing that if toe deceived them they should no more 
place confidence in mankind. 

The disputed matters were now brought into a train of amicable 
adjustment, and a firm peace (it was hoped) was about to be esta- 
blished between these nations and the United States. 

During this visit, many of the difficulties and sufferings to which the 
Indians were subjected, were brought into view, and their situation 
appeared loudly to claim the sympathy of those who had grown opulent 
on the former inheritance of these poor declining people. Hence these 
Friends suggested the propriety of the society of Friends, pursuing some 
plan of rendering them more essential service than had hitherto been 
rendered. 

Again in 1795, a treaty was held with some of the western tribes of 
Indians, and, although Friends did not send a deputation to attend it, 



they nevertheless, forwarded a suitable address, calculated to evince 
their love of peace, and ardent desire for the restoration of harmony 
between the Indians and the government of the United States. This 
letter was accompanied by suitable presents, directed to the care of 
General Anthony Wayne, who informed Friends that they were 
gratefully received by the Indians, and also, that there now was the 
fairest prospect of a lasting peace and friendly intercourse between 
the citizens of the United States, and the aborigines of America. 

Peace accordingly once more took place between the United States 
and the Indians, after many years of war and devastation; but this ces- 
sation of hostilities was purchased, on behalf of the Indians, by the relin- 
quishment of a large tract of their country north-west of the river 
Ohio, and they were also otherwise left in a poor and destitute situation. 

Previous to this period, several of the Indians chiefs had, in a pathetic 
manner, applied to the society of Friends to remember them in their 
distressed situation, and also to instruct them in the modes of civilized 
life. 

The following, from Gay-us-hu-ta, an ancient chief of the Seneca 
nation, on the borders of Pennsylvania, is worthy of preserving on record: 

"Brothers, the sons of my beloved brother Onas — When I was young 
and strong, our country was full of game, which the great spirit sent for 
us to live upon. The lands which belonged to us, were extended far be- 
yond where we hunted. I, and the people of my nation, always had 
plenty to eat, and always something to give to our friends when they 
entered our cabins, and we rejoiced when they received it from us. 
Hunting was then not tiresome. It was diversion — it was a pleasure. 

" Brothers, when your fathers asked land of my nation, we gave it to 
them — Gay-us-hu-ta was always among the first to say, "Give land to 
our brother Onas, for he wants it — and he has always been a friend 
to Onas and his children." 

" Brothers, your fathers saw Gay-us-hu-ta when he was young, when 
he had not even thought of old age or of weakness — but you are too 
far off to see him now — he is grown old, he is very old and feeble, and 
he wonders at his own shadow, it has become so little. He has no chil- 
dren to take care of him, and the game is driven away by the white 
people, so that the young men must hunt all day to get game for them- 
selves to eat — they have nothing left for Gay-us-hu-ta. And it is not 
Gay-us-hu-ta only that is become old and feeble ; there yet remains 
about thirty men of your old friends, who, unable to provide for them- 
selves, or to help one another, are become poor, and are hungry and 
naked. 

" Brothers, Gay-us-hu-ta sends you a belt, which he received long 
ago from your fathers, and a writing which he received but as yesterday 
2 



10 

from one of you; by these you will remember him and the old friends 
of your father's in this nation. Look on this belt and this writing, and 
if you remember the old friends of your fathers, consider their former 
friendship and their present distress, and if the good spirit shall put it 
into your hearts to comfort them in their old age, do not disregard his 
counsel. We are men, and therefore need only tell you, that we are 
old and feeble, and hungry, and naked, and that we have no other 
friends but you, the children of our beloved brother Onas." 

The following is an extract from a letter addressed by Cornplanter, 
a chief of the same nation, to Friends in the year 1791. 

" Brothers, the Seneca nation see that the great spirit intends they 
should not continue to live by hunting, and they look round on every 
side and inquire, who it is that shall teach them what is best for them 
to do. Your fathers dealt honestly with our fathers, and they have en- 
gaged us to remember it: we wish our children to be taught the same 
principles by which your fathers were guided. 

" Brothers, we have too little wisdom among us, and we cannot teach 
our children what we perceive their situation requires them to know. 
We wish them to be taught to read and write, and such other things as 
you teach your children, especially the love of peace." 

Two Friends visited some of the Indians of the Delaware nation near 
Muskinghum, in the year 1793. The following is a speech of one of 
their chiefs named Neet-wot-willimon, on the occasion. 

" Brothers, we are glad, and rejoice in our hearts to see our brothers;, 
the Quakers, speaking before us — we feel the grace that is in your 
hearts conveyed to us, and we wish to be of the same religion, but we 
are poor, and weak, and not capable of judging for ourselves — we hope 
you will have pity upon us, and instruct us how to gain a more com- 
fortable living — and, also, how we may come to obtain everlasting hap- 
piness: when we think of our poor children, our hearts are affected with 
sorrow — we hope you will send us teachers." 

These circumstances, together with the remembrance of the kindness 
of the natives to the early settlers in this country, continued to interest, 
the feelings of the society of Friends in their behalf, and from motives 
of religious obligation, the Yearly Meeting, held in Philadelphia in the 
Ninth month, 1795, appointed a large committee for the special purpose 
of promoting the improvement and gradual civilization of the Indian 
natives, in such a way and manner, as would best tend to meliorate their 
condition; and to render an account annually to the Yearly Meeting of 
their progress therein. This committee promoted liberal subscriptions 
through the society — appointed a clerk and treasurer, and held stated 



11 

meetings to deliberate on such measures, as, under the divine blessingv 
might best promote the real welfare of these inhabitants of the wilder- 
ness. 

Tn order more fully to learn the disposition of the several tribes of 
Indians bordering on the state of Pennsylvania, it was an early object 
with the committee, to address to them a circular letter, informing 
them of the objects the society had in view for their benefit — and also 
therein communicating much salutary advice and counsel; which letter 
was also accompanied by one from Timothy Pickering, then secretary 
of state, in which he expresses a hearty co-operation with the views and 
plans of the committee, and the necessity of the Indians' gradually de- 
clining their former modes of procuring sustenance, and betaking them- 
selves to the cultivation of the soil, and raising domestic animals. 

In his letter he says — 

" Now, Brothers, I have the great pleasure to inform you, that your 
good friends, the Quakers, have formed a wise plan to show your young 
men and boys the most useful practices of the white people. They will 
choose some prudent, good men to instruct them. These good men will 
do this, only from the love they bear to you, their fellow men, and chil- 
dren of the Great Spirit whom they desire to please, and who will be 
pleased with the good they do to you." 

" The Quakers, and the good men they employ, will ask nothing from 
you, neither land, nor money, nor skins, nor furs, for all the good they 
will render to you. They will request only your consent, and the at- 
tention of the young men and boys to learn what will be so useful. 

" Brothers, if this first attempt succeed, the way will be open in which 
your young people may learn other useful practices of the white peo- 
ple, so as to enable them to supply all their own wants; and such as 
choose it, may learn to read and write. 

" Having thus explained to you the plan of your friends the Quakers, 
I conclude, with heartily recommending it to your adoption, as better 
calculated to procure lasting and essential benefits to your nation, than 
any plan ever before attempted. 

Wishing it great success, I remain your friend and brother, 

Timothy Pickering. 

Philadelphia, February 15, 1796. 

Timothy Pickering also wrote to the superintendent of the six na- 
tions, and to the interpreter for the United States, requesting them to 
prepare the minds of the Indians for the intended plan formed by the 
society of Friends, to introduce among them some of the necessary arts 
of civil life. Those letters were explained to various tribes of Indians, 
who generally expressed their approbation of the measures proposed. 



12 

The Oneidas, however, and those Indians settled on the Oneida re- 
servation, comprehending the Stockbridges — and a part of the Tusca- 
roras, near the sources of the Mohawk river, in the state of New York, 
were most solicitous to co-operate with Friends in the intended experi- 
ment for a reform in the Indian mode of life. 

In the spring of the year 1796, three young men, who offered their 
services to spend some time in the instruction of the natives, were ac- 
companied by four of the committee into the Oneida country, and pro- 
vided with implements of husbandry, carpenters' and smiths' tools, and 
other necessary accommodations. The Indians received them with joyful 
countenances, and gave them a hearty welcome to their villages. Their 
first council was held with the Stockbridges. These Indians are not of 
the six nations. They were said to consist of about sixty families, and 
three hundred individuals; and possessed upwards of twenty-three thou- 
sand acres of land, which had been given to them by the Oneida nation. 
They had a saw-mill, three carts, three pair of good working oxen, and 
some other things, which they enjoyed in common ; but, in general, 
possessed their improvements and other fruits of their industry as pri- 
vate property; and little appeared to be wanting, but a spirit of indus- 
try, frugality, and sobriety, to make their situation comfortable. After 
giving them such advice as their situation required, Friends held a 
general council with the Oneidas, about four miles distant from the 
Stockbridge settlement. Here they fully explained the nature of their 
embassy, and endeavoured to impress the Indians with the necessity of 
a change in their manner of life, and the means whereby it might be 
accomplished, if they became industrious, cultivated their land, and 
raised cattle, sheep, and other domestic animals — also, that their women 
should learn to spin, knit, and manufacture their clothing. 

The Indians appeared well satisfied with the offer that had been 
made them, and the prospect of the young men staying among them to 
assist them. The women, especially, who had great reason to coincide 
with the views of Friends in this business, appeared to be well satisfied; 
for in proportion to the rude and uncultivated state of these people, are 
the hardships of their women increased; they having most of the 
drudgery to perform ; such as hoeing corn, chopping wood, carrying 
burthens, &c. while their men are sporting with their bows and arrows, 
and other similar diversions. 

It was supposed the Oneidas at this time possessed about two hundred 
and forty square miles of land. They were, in number, about six hun- 
dred and twenty. They had a saw-mill, built by government, and a 
considerable number of cattle, horses, and some working oxen. With 
these, and their annuities from the government, they might, with a 
proper application on their part, have become good livers, abounding 



VS 

in the necessary comforts of life. But such were their excessive indo- 
lence, want of economy, and love of strong drink, that instead of im- 
proving the means in their power to make themselves comfortable, they 
were poor and wretched; and many of them, a great part of the year, 
almost reduced to a state of starvation. The little corn and other 
produce the women raised with their hoes, were frequently bartered for 
strong drink. The evil effects of this practice, Friends were particu- 
larly concerned to remark, in their councils; and some exertions were 
said to have been used by their chiefs, to prevent strong liquor from 
being sold in their villages. 

Friends also had a council with the Brotherton Indians, about nine 
miles from the Stockbridges, composed of fifty-six families, and pos- 
sessed of about nine thousand nine hundred acres of land. They also 
had a saw-mill, and a considerable number of cattle and other animals. 
They also had an interview with a smaller tribe of the Tuscaroras, 
who lived on the Oneida's land, and furnished them with some goods, 
and implements of husbandry, encouraging them to industry, and sober 
habits, whereby they might partake plentifully of the blessings of the 
Great Spirit. They had further satisfactory interviews with the Stock- 
bridge Indians, and in addition to the implements of husbandry they 
had given them, presented them with a set of smiths' tools. At the close 
of their communications, an old chief replied to them as follows: — 

" Brothers, I am glad to see you, in my heart, and to hear your good 
words — you use us just like a father — I am old — have lost all my family 
— and cannot live many days — but all this spring, I think the Great 
Spirit will send me some comfort in my trouble — but nobody say any 
thing to me, till now, you are come, — I wish I was young, then I would 
do what you say — I will go and see your young men at Oneida, every 
two or three days, and tell our young men how you do." 

The principal chief of the nation, on behalf of the rest, expressed 
much satisfaction for the kind offers Friends had made them, especially 
for the smiths' tools; stating that they had suffered much for the want 
of them, having had to go many miles, and sometimes lose many days, to 
get one link of a chain mended. 

The committee who accompanied the young men, now having spent 
near a month in the Indian" country, and having obtained a house to 
accommodate them, and got satisfactory arrangements made between 
them and the Indians, set out homewards. On their way, about thirty 
miles westward of Oneida, they called to see a small tribe of the Onon- 
daga Indians. They were about one hundred and Ihirty-five in num- 
ber, and possessed about twelve thousand eight hundred acres of good 
land, but were in a poor and miserable condition, spending their time in 
idleness, and much given to intemperance ; even pawning the blankets 



14 

they received from government, for liquor, before they got them home. 
Friends had an interview with them, and endeavoured to impress them 
with the necessity of a change in their manner of life, and the advan- 
tage that would arise from habits of industry and sobriety; letting them 
know that they were willing to help them a little, but that their main 
object was to get them to help themselves. 

They also visited a small tribe of the Cayuga Indians, about seventy 
miles westward from Oneida, said to be about sixty in number, in a 
similar situation to the Onondagas. To these the committee promised 
to send some implements of husbandry, which were afterwards furnished 
them. 

The three young men now stationed at Oneida, began to set before 
the natives an example of industry, and to use endeavours to promote 
in them a like disposition; but they, being unaccustomed to labour, and 
naturally averse to habits of industry, continued in their former pursuits. 
Friends then improved a piece of land, without assistance from the na- 
tives, hoping some of them would be induced to follow their example. 
They also repaired and worked a saw-mill, belonging to the Oneidas, 
and instructed several of the Indians in the knowledge of sawing. 

In the fall of this year, one of the young men returned home, and 
another who offered his services, went forward to that station. 

The ensuing winter, Friends opened a school for the instruction of 
the children, and an Indian, qualified by an education in New England, 
taught the Stockbridge children, and was allowed a salary by Friends 
for several years. 

In the year 1797, but little improvement was made by the Oneida 
Indians. Sickness prevailed among them, which Friends did not wholly 
escape. One of the young men went to distribute some implements of 
husbandry, &c. among the Onondaga, and Cayuga Indians, and to en- 
courage them to apply themselves to the use of them, earnestly recom- 
mending them to sobriety and industry, as the only means of promoting 
their happiness. For while they remained in habits of idleness and 
drunkenness, they would be poor and miserable. They were grateful 
for the presents received, and promised to apply themselves to the use 
of them; but said, that " drinking rum, and getting drunk they were not 
able to keep from, because it was running all round them ; that they 
lived on an island, and the white people gave them drams, and then 
they craved more, so that they thought it was impossible to leave it off, 
they had been so long accustomed to it ; but they were in hopes the 
young people would learn better." 

In the fore part of this summer, the Oneida Indians, as was their 
usual custom, (to supply themselves with food, being urged thereto by 
necessity,) went on an expedition, about twenty miles, to the other side 



15 

of the Oneida lake, after young pigeons. These they caught in great 
abundance, and after salting them in bark troughs, brought them home 
to their villages. 

In the Ninth month, this year, another of the young men returned 
from the Oneida settlement, by whom the principal chiefs of that nation 
addressed a letter to the committee, expressive of their gratitude for 
the favours received, and their satisfaction with the conduct of the 
young man who had resided among them. 

The Sachems of the Stockbridge nation also sent a letter, from which 
the following is extracted: 

" Brothers and friends, attend. We the Sachems and counsellors of 
the Mohikonick or Stockbridge nation, send our voice to you. We feel 
rejoiced that the great, good Spirit, has put such light and love in your 
hearts, and influenced your minds to such a degree, as to have compas- 
sionate feelings towards us, the natives of this island. We ever have 
felt the gladness on our hearts, to find and see with our own eyes, that 
you have not only spoke good words from your lips, but have been doers 
of the good work — you have extended your charity towards us in this 
wilderness. You have taken the pains to come up, year ago last summer 
— you have sat with us in council, you have given us many good coun- 
cils — you have raised our heads which were hung down — you have 
directed our eyes to see the good path of life — you have put tools on 
our hands — you have hung a good kettle by the side of our fire-place, 
whereby our food may be cooked without any trouble — you have even 
put a good staff into the hands of our children — that they may be enabled 
to learn the path that leads to good life, and indeed you have done 
much good for us. By these means we have been enabled to avoid 
many difficulties — our young men are greatly encouraged, and our old 
men comforted. 

" Brothers, we hope that in a future day, you will rejoice, that what 
you have done for us was not in vain. The kindness which you have 
done to us is by this time sounded in the ears of our allies, the different 
nations towards the setting sun; for it was the custom of our fore- 
fathers, when any thing was done for them by the white people — all 
their friends and allies must know of it" 

Signed by six Chiefs. 

Dated Neio Stockbridge, 9th mo. 1797. 

A desire was expressed by the Indians, that some of their daughters 
might be brought into the neighbourhood of Philadelphia to receive 
instruction. Accordingly six girls, aged from nine to eighteen years were 
received, and placed in the families of Friends in Chester county, to be 



1G 

instructed in school-learning, and the usual branches of housewifery 
and domestic economy, where some of them remained several years. 

In the spring of the year 1798, (in order to induce the Indians to 
labour,) a proposition was made to hire some of them to assist in im- 
proving the land allotted for a farm; but they were so irregular in 
working, that the plan was abandoned. Some days nearly thirty would 
come to work, and on other days, scarcely one was to be had. They 
therefore engaged a number of lads and young men whom they boarded, 
and allowed a reasonable compensation for their services. 

At this time some improvement had taken place. Many of the Indian 
men would assist their wives in working their little lots of land; but they 
experienced some difficulty from the want of a blacksmith, to make 
and repair their tools. A Friend, however, well qualified to instruct 
them in this business, offered his services, who, with his wife, and ano- 
ther female, desirous of spending some time in the instruction of the 
Indian women, proceeded to that settlement, and were usefully engaged 
in the benevolent object of improving the condition of the natives. 

In the Seventh month, this year, this settlement was visited by two 
of the committee, who assisted the Friends there, in making some ar- 
rangements with the Indians relative to the smith's business, and other- 
wise imparting suitable encouragement to them in regard to the culti- 
vation of their land. 

About this time, and for some time previous, (probably instigated by 
the evil insinuations of some designing white men,) some of the Indians 
had manifested suspicions of the sincerity of Friends' views. They 
knew that the improvement made on their land, and the various tools 
and implements of husbandry furnished them by Friends, must have 
cost a great deal of money, and they had not been witnesses of any in- 
stance, where white people had come forward in such a manner to 
assist Indians, but, sooner or later an interested motive discovered itself 
— therefore, some had fear that it was intended to make a permanent 
establishment, and lay claim to a part of their land. And indeed when 
we advert to the many impositions practised upon this much injured 
people, by those who have gone among them, under the character of 
missionaries, and religious instructers, we cannot much marvel that this 
should be the case. 

Friends, however, expostulated with them on various subjects, rela- 
tive to their improvement, and reminded them of their ungrateful sur- 
mises and whisperings in this respect — and told them, that they had 
never asked any of their land — they never should — nor would they 
take it, if offered to them — and that they had no other inducement 
for staying among them, spending their time and their money, but their 
own good. 



17 

In their reply to Friends, the Indians, hy way of apology, mention— 
" There are some bad people, who have spoke against you, that you 
had a design to take away our land ; and sometimes when our minds 
were not right, we believed such talk — and this made us feel very ugly 
— but now we are convinced, and sorry we believed such things. We 
are satisfied that you are a true people, and we will continue to be of 
that mind." 

This visit seemed (to use the Indian term,) to brighten the chain of 
friendship; and the prospect of improvement assumed a more encour- 
aging appearance. A comfortable dwelling house and barn were built 
this year, and the Indian lads and young men were usefully employed 
in cultivating the farm. A large quantity of grain, hay, and vegetables 
were raised — affording ample proof to the natives, of the beneficial ef- 
fects of cultivating the soil. 

Several of them, also, acquired considerable knowledge of the black- 
smith's business, and many of their young women and girls received 
instruction in spinning, knitting, sewing, and other domestic affairs, 
and some progress was made in their school learning. 

In the spring of 1799, a more encouraging prospect of success, in 
improving the condition of the Indians, was apparent. Several of the 
Indian men improved lots of land for their own benefit, which they 
sowed with wheat, and other grain. The smith's business continued to 
be attended to by them, and Friends, with the aid of the Indians, con- 
tinued to work their farms; nor were their exertions, either this or any 
former year, confined to their immediate residence; but as opportunities 
for usefulness presented, they extended their labours to the various 
parts of the Indian settlements, and afforded assistance in as many ways, 
as the necessities of the natives required. 

As the Indians at this place had now obtained sufficient instruction 
to enable them, by proper application, to procure a comfortable living, 
it was concluded by Friends, that the time was drawing near, when it 
might be right to withdraw from them, and to convince the Indians of 
their disinterested motives, by leaving all their improvements, tools, and 
implements of husbandry for their own use and benefit; and with a view 
of making this arrangement, four of the committee visited the settle- 
ment in the Ninth month this year. After viewing the progress made 
by the Indians in the agricultural art, and also finding that two of them 
had acquired the knowledge of the blacksmith's business, so fully as to 
be likely to answer all the work the natives might stand in need of, and 
others having applied themselves to the use of carpenter's tools, so as 
to be capable of building good houses, barns, and making ploughs, har- 
rows, and many other implements of husbandry, it appeared that very 
little was wanting but application on their part, to put themselves in a 
3 



18 

Way of living comfortably, and of procuring or raising in a, plentiful de 
gree, most of the necessaries of life. 

Friends now had a free and open conference with the Indians, on the 
subject of relinquishing that settlement, and told them, as they had at 
the first, that they came not among them to make them presents that 
would soon slide away, but to teach them some of the useful practices 
of the white people; that they had now set before them a clear exam- 
ple, and showed them what a great deal of produce for the support of 
life, might be raised from a small piece of land ; and expressed a hope 
they would take their advice, and follow the example they had set 
before them, informing them that there were a great many more of 
their Indian brethren that stood in need of assistance and instruction — 
and hoped they would be satisfied with what was already done for them. 

To the communications of Friends on this occasion, an ancient chief, 
Skenandoah, made the following reply, on behalf of the nation: — 

" Brother Onas attend. We know you told us you came not amongst 
us to make us presents that would soon wear away, but to stay some 
time — to instruct us how to gain a comfortable living, by tilling the 
ground, as the white people do. Now you have staid the time you pro- 
posed, and have fulfilled all your engagements to our nation, and we 
shall follow the good example you have set before us, which we know 
would be of lasting benefit to us; and we thankfully acknowledge your 
kindness, having never heard of any people who have done so much 
for Indians, without any view of advantage to themselves — which is a 
convincing proof to us that you arc our real friends. And we are glad 
the good spirit has put it into your minds to assist others of our Indian 
brethren, in learning the same good way of living, for which we also 
thank you, as well as for the good advice you gave us about strong 
drink ; and we will try all we can to persuade our young men to do 
better. 

" And now Brothers, if we have done any thing that displeases you. 
we wish you would tell us, that our friendship may remain bright; for 
now we know you are a true people, and we will keep this writing 
and tell our young men and children every year, that they may always 
remember your friendship." 

Near the close of the year, the Friends at Oneida having made the 
necessary arrangements about the distribution of the property, which 
consisted of between two and three hundred bushels of grain, a quantity 
of hay, a cow, a number of hogs, a cart, ploughs, harrows, carpenter's 
and smith's tools, household and kitchen furniture, all for the benefit of 
the Indians, they had a parting conference with them, when they 
presented them with the following address in writing. 

" Brothers of the Oneida nation. We are now about to leave you, 



19 

•ind return to our respective homes. We desire to speak to you in a 
few words. You know it is more than three years since your friends, 
the people called Quakers, have been endeavouring to assist and in- 
struct you how to gain a comfortable living, by cultivating your land, 
and some of us who are here, have left our near connexions and friends 
in order to be useful to your nation. 

"Now, Brothers, we have set before you a clear example, how to till 
your land, so as to raise plenty of wheat, and other good things for your 
support. We wish you, therefore, to improve the opportunity, by which 
means you may come to live happy and plentifully by the fruits of your 
own industry and care. We have often told you that we want nothing 
from you for all our trouble and expense, but the improvement of your 
nation. 

"Brothers, you have now the advantage of having most of your smith 
work done by your own people, which is not the case with any of your 
brethren to the westward. If you do not improve the advantages you 
have, you must blame yourselves for your poverty and distress. We 
entreat you, therefore, to be wise for your own interest, and leave off 
the practice of drinking strong drink, (for you know it has been the 
cause of most of your difficulties,) and try to pursue a sober, industrious 
course of life. Then we believe the good spirit will bless you with last- 
ing benefits; and as we have endeavoured to live in peace among you, 
we wish you to live in peace one with another, that your good example 
may be a blessing to your children — always remembering, that your 
welfare and happiness as well as the improvement of your children will 
depend much on your sobriety and industry. 

"Brothers, we now leave you, hoping your good understanding will 
incline you to pursue the way we have endeavoured to point out to you. 
We now bid you farewell." 

The Indians, both of the Oneida and Stockbridge tribes, made replies 
of considerable length to our friends on this parting opportunity, in 
which they expressed their sense of gratitude for the many services 
Friends had rendered them; and, among other things, stated, that "they 
would endeavour to pursue the path Friends had pointed out to them," 
and further added : — 

" Brothers, it is now a long time since the white people have lived 
on this island. They have frequently told us they loved us — but none 
of them have ever tried to instruct us in cultivating our land before. 
We now see, brothers, that your society has manifested more regard 
for the welfare of the Indians, than any other people, for which we 
thank you. We also thank the Great Spirit that he has put it into your 
hearts to love and regard Indians." 

These Friends arrived in Philadelphia in the First month, 1S01. — It 



20 

Was hoped that the labour bestowed upon those Indians would eventu- 
rillv prove a blessing to them, and that the spirit of industry that had 
been discovered in individuals, would gradually progress from family to 
family, and have a powerful and beneficial influence on many of the 
adjacent tribes — and, in time, also, on those more remote. 

In the autumn of this year, the Stockbridge girls, who had been placed 
among Friends in the fall of 1797, were returned to their parents. They 
had acquired a considerable knowledge of school learning, and of spin- 
ning, knitting, sewing, and the different branches of housewifery. 

To show a specimen of their improvement in school learning, I will 
here give a copy of a letter written by one of them, the following spring 
after their arrival among Friends, in which time she had acquired so 
much of the English language, as to enable her to convey her ideas by 
writing : 

New Garden, Third mo. 10M, 1798. 
"My dear mother: I will try to let thee know how I do so far from 
thee — I have been well ever since I left thee. I would be glad to see 
thee mother — 1 want to see thee, and brothers and sisters, and all 
Stockbridge friends — I want to see father — I like to live in this country 
pretty well — and dear friends clever — me live in clever house, very 
good man, make clocks — make porringers and spoons — me like to see 
him — I can knit stockings and spin — I have made sampler — I know 
how to mark my clothes, then I know my own — three girls make bon- 
nets and do all work — I work a little, play a little — go to meeting a 
little — sometimes walk — sometimes ride on horseback, when roads are 
muddy — the girls' mother very good old woman — I love her — she learns 
me to work. 

Mary Peters. 

My dear Brother — Me live well at very good house. I love thee, and 
sisters, and mother — I want see you all — Friends say, may be we all 
go back to Stockbridge before next winter — I think I have told thee 
all I can now, so bid thee farewell. 

Mary Peters. 

N. B. This letter my own hand writing, so you may see I learn write." 

The following is an extract of a letter written by one of the Indian 
girls after her return home, dated the Ninth month, 1803, to one of the 
women Friend- who had engaged in the instruction of the natives at 
Oneida. 

" I have spun some flax and wool since I come home, and made some 
cheese to show our Indians how to make cheese — they be very much 



21 

pleased to know how to make cheese— some said they never thought 
Indians could make cheese so well. They hegan to try to keep cows 
ever since to make cheese and butter. Some of them began to sow 
some flax, and good many of our Indians got sheep — meat good to cat, 
and wool good for cloth. I hope we will do better every year. Good 
many have left off drinking, and some of them drink very hard yet. I 
have been to see Oneidas not long ago — they improve very much since 
thee come away — good many have new frame houses and frame barns 
— they improve very much ever since they left off drinking. I believe 
three hundred of men and women left off drinking this sometime past — 
I hope they will keep their words good." 

By some information received afterwards, it appears some of these 
young women married soon after their return and settled themselves 
to industry, lived well, and some Friends calling to see them, were 
kindly received and hospitably entertained by them. 

After the committee of the Yearly Meeting of Pennsylvania with- 
drew their attention from the Oneidas, and those Indians in the vicinity, 
they came more particularly under the notice of Friends of the Yearly 
Meeting of New York, who had formed similar plans for the improve- 
ment and civilization of the Indian natives. 



Friendly intercourse between the Society of Friends, and various 
nations of Indians. 

It seems necessary, in this place, to go back a little in the order of 
time, and give some account of the interviews with the chiefs and others, 
of various nations of Indians, who at different times visited Philadelphia. 

As the minds of Friends were attentively opened to the great object 
of the concern, in promoting the well-being and gradual improvement 
of the Indian natives, every opportunity was embraced of cultivating 
a friendly intercourse with them, and of giving such counsel and en- 
couragement as seemed to be adapted to their situation, accompanied 
with some such aid in implements of husbandry and other things, as 
their necessities demanded. 

In the Ninth month, 1796, Benjamin Hawkins superintendent of the 
Creek nation, settled in the interior of Georgia, was introduced to the 
committee on Indian affairs. He brought with him four lads of that 
nation to be educated; two of whom were placed with Friends, where 
they remained several years, and were instructed in school learning. 
He also suggested the propriety of furnishing those Indians with some 



22 

meehahical tools, which were procured and forwarded to them, accom- 
panied by a suitable address, from which the following is extracted: 

" Brothers, we feel it in our hearts to tell you that the great and 
good spirit, made all people with a design that they should live in peace 
and good will, and that it is for this end he hath placed his law in the 
hearts of all men, which, if carefully attended to, would keep them in 
love and friendship — and teach them to avoid every thing that would 
lead them to hurt and destroy one another. 

" Brothers, are you not sensible that when you are quarrelsome, or 
have done any bad action, that you are made sorrowful and uneasy, 
and that on the contrary when you are serious, and do good actions, 
your minds feel easy, pleasant, and comfortable? This is from the good 
spirit, who is all love, and who hath placed his law in our hearts, to 
give us peace and comfort when we do well, and make us sad and un- 
easy when we do evil. 

"Brothers, we are glad in believing that the good spirit has influenced 
the hearts of our great men to do the Indians good ; and we earnestly 
desire, that you may be so wise as to follow their good advice in trying 
to improve your fertile land by farming, and raising cattle, sheep, and 
hogs; so that you may have food and clothing for yourselves, your wives, 
and your children." 

About the beginning of the year 1797, Friends had satisfactory in- 
terviews with deputies from various nations, among whom were some 
of the Creek, Cherokee, Chickasaw, and Choctaw Indians, inhabiting 
the northern and western parts of Georgia; and the Shawanees, Chip- 
pewas, and Pottawattamies, living on the waters of the Wabash river, 
and bordering on lakes Michigan and Superior. 

To these Indians suitable presents were made to a considerable 
amount. In divers conferences had with them, Friends informed them 
of the nature and effect of their peaceable principles, and testimony 
against wars and fightings — their care of the society in first settling Penn- 
sylvania, under the patronage of William Penn, whom the Indians 
called brother Onas, not to settle on lands that were not fairly purchased 
and paid for to the satisfaction of the natives, with whom friendship, 
harmony, and mutual kind offices long subsisted. They also informed 
them of their continued desire to maintain this amity, by exerting their 
best endeavours and influence for the healing of differences between 
white people and Indians. They endeavoured to explain to their un- 
derstandings how much the attainment of this happy end depends upon 
cherishing, in ourselves, the benevolent disposition inseparable from the 
true spirit and practice of real Christianity. They also recommended 
them to instruct their youth in modes of living more conformable there- 



23 

to, than had heretofore been customary with them, and especially 
warned them against the pernicious effects of using spirituous liquors. 

A number of the chiefs expressed great satisfaction with these inter- 
views. Some of them said they remembered to have heard of such a 
people as the Quakers; but the account remained with them an uncer- 
tainty, until now they had witnessed its reality; that the sentiments 
and advice communicated, was such as they had never heard before ; 
that it had sunk deep into their hearts, and that they wished it con- 
veyed to their people more extensively by personal visits from some of 
the Quakers. One of them remarked particularly on the counsel im- 
parted not to revenge injuries, and gave repeated assurances, " that 
although he had heard of two of his people being killed, he was deter- 
mined not to retaliate, but to adhere to peace." 

An ancient chief of the Creek nation, among many other things said, 
" Brothers, I am an old man, yet I have travelled much this year to 
promote peace. I went many hundred miles to the treaty on the fron- 
tiers of Georgia, held by the commissioners of the United States, and of 
the State of Georgia, with my nation, where several matters were ad- 
justed to my satisfaction. I then returned home, but in a short time, 
came by invitation to this city, to make the chain of friendship still 
brighter. On my way, and since coming here, I have met with nothing 
unpleasant; nor do I regret all the toil and fatigue of a long journey to 
establish a firm peace. I believe the Great Spirit above made both 
white and red men; but I suppose it is because we are red men, that 
the white men impose upon us, and try to get our land, which we do 
not want to part with. 

" Brothers, I am glad to find there are a people who love peace, and 
give such good advice to red men. I was a stranger to you, till since 
my coming here. You kindly took notice of me. A few days ago one of 
your women delivered a talk which I have hid deep in my heart. I 
never heard such an one before. I want to tell it to my nation, after 
I get home — and for fear I should forget some of it, I should like to have 
it in print that it might be fully explained to them." 

In the First month, 1798, the Little Turtle, a chief of the Miami nation, 
and some other western Indians, were introduced to the committee by 
a letter from General James Wilkinson, then commander-in-chief of 
the army of the United States, to his brother-in-law, Owen Biddle, of 
Philadelphia. In this letter, he wrote as follows, " When we contem- 
plate the fortunes of the aborigines of our country, the bosom of phi- 
lanthropy must heave with sorrow. What would not that man, or that 
community merit, who reclaims the untutored Indian — opens his mind 
to sources of happiness unknown, and makes him useful to society — 
*ince it would be in effect to save a whole race from extinction? For, 



24 

surely, if these people arc not brought to depend for sustenance on their 
fields instead of their forests, it will be found impossible to reclaim their 
present habits; and the seeds of their extinction already sown, must 
be matured. 

" The bearer of this letter, the Little Turtle, is forcibly impressed with 
these truths, and is anxious to co-operate in a fair experiment on his 
tribe. It is with this view that I introduce him particularly to you, in 
hopes you may think proper to recommend him to the patronage of the 
benevolent society of which you are a member." 

Friends had satisfactory interviews with these Indians, and suitable 
presents were given to them. The Little Turtle expressed a strong 
desire for the improvement of his people, and hoped Friends would use 
their endeavours to promote the work of civilization among them. 

The committee embraced this opportunity of addressing a general 
letter to the Miami Indians, and other nations united with them, in 
which they reminded them of the ancient friendship that subsisted be- 
tween their forefathers and Friends, in the early settlement of this 
country — that the chain of friendship had been kept bright for more 
than one hundred years, by mutual acts of kindness to each other, and 
that while Friends had the chief direction of public affairs in Pennsyl- 
vania, there was no war between the white people and Indians in that 
state: but since those times of brotherly kindness, some men had given 
way to the power of the bad spirit in their hearts, so as to become 
desperately wicked, coveting their neighbours' goods, and even thirsting 
for blood. This had caused wars and fightings, and produced much 
misery in the world — and that the society of Friends were concerned 
to persuade their rulers to do justly, and maintain peace with the In- 
dians, and with all men — and were also very desirous that the Great 
overruling Spirit of love, might so influence and direct the councils of 
the Indian nations, and so dispose their hearts to peace, that the sound 
of war might no more be heard in their land. 

They were, also, in this address, especially warned against the per- 
nicious effects of spirituous liquors, which concern may be understood 
to have been particularly attended to in most of their communications 
to the Indians. 

In the summer of this year, Friends received a letter from the Little 
Turtle, giving them an account of the safe arrival of the articles sent 
to his nation. They also received one from the Creek nation, giving an 
account of the reception of the implements of husbandry forwarded to 
them, for which they expressed a sense of gratitude for the great benefit 
to that nation. 

In the Twelfth month, this year, Friends had a satisfactory interview 
in Philadelphia, with two chiefs of the Ottawa nation, two chiefs of the 



25 

Pottawattamies, and the principal chief of the Chippewa nation, who 
were accompanied by Jonathan SheiFelin, agent and Indian interpreter, 
being then on an embassy to the president of the United States. 

At the conclusion of a speech made by Kekis, (the Sun) the princi- 
pal chief of the Pottawattamies, on behalf of the three nations, he pre- 
sented six strings of white wampum as a token of brotherly regard for 
the society of Friends. 

Among other things, in his speech, he says — 

" Brothers, we are an ignorant people, and don't know what is right 
as well as you do. We have often been persuaded by the white people 
to join in their wars against one another. A great while ago, the French 
set us against the English. They should have taught us better things. 
I hope, however, our hearts will become as white as the wampum in 
my hand. The Great Spirit above has made us, as well as you; though 
we are not of one colour. He has put it into our hearts to live in peace 
with the white people. I believe it is his will that we should meet to- 
gether in the centre of this great island. I am sensible your hearts are 
good towards your brothers the red people. 

" Brothers, when you came to see us at Detroit,* we wanted to see 
you ; but other people would not suffer us to take you by the hand. If 
they had been of our minds, you would have had us round you then, as 
you are now round us. Colonel M'K.f prevented us. We return you 
thanks for the good you came for. Our wives and children shed tears 
because they could not come to you. When they said we will go, he 
said, you will be disappointed, they will not give you so much as a nee- 
dle full of thread. We believed it — our dependence was on them. 

" Brothers, we hope you will continue your friendship to us, and help 
us to keep our lands. I speak from my heart. We know you are not 
capable of giving bad advice. The Great Spirit hears what we say, 
and it will be known among our people, so long as red men shall remain 
upon this island. 

" Brothers, these six strings of wampum, in the sight of the Great 
Spirit, are to sweep all the bad things away from between us. 

" If the white'people should want to spill our blood again, we hope you 
will use your endeavours to preserve peace." 

These Indians also presented a large belt of ten strings of white wam- 
pum from the Delaware nation, with a speech of considerable length 
in writing, from which we extract the following. 

After acknowledging the kindness of Friends, and the good advice 

* Alluding to an ineffectual attempt made during the war in 1793, when six Friends, 
as before stated, attended with the commissioners of the United States. 
f A British agent for Indian affairs resident in Canada. 
4 



26 

communicated in the speech which they had received by the hands of 
the Miami chief, the Little Turtle, they say — 

" Brothers, you strongly recommend peace — we are much inclined 
to peace. The war axe is long since buried deep in the bottom of the 
great lake — so very deep, that we hope the evil Spirit will never be 
able to take it up again. There we hope it will ever remain, and never 
be thought of by any of us. We hope that the master of life, who dis- 
poses of all things according to his will and pleasure, may also so dis- 
pose the hearts and minds of his white brethren, as they used to be at 
that time when our forefathers first met on this great island, and smoked 
the pipe of peace with your grandfather Onas, (Penn) on the very same 
spot where your great village (Philadelphia) now stands. 

" Brothers, at that time the hearts and minds of men were white and 
good. The evil spirit who works in the inside of the bodies of men, had 
then no power over them. Our villages were peaceful, and our paths, 
at that time, were covered with flowers, and we knew nothing of war. 
But soon after, the bad spirit fixed himself deep in the hearts and minds 
of our white brethren. They made war against each other, and soon 
taught us to be as wicked as themselves, and, like themselves, cruel 
and unjust. It was them who took the pipe of peace out of our hands, 
and it was them who put the destructive war axe into our hands, to 
strike against their white brethren and their helpless women and chil- 
dren. They only are the cause of all our misfortunes — the destruction 
of our villages, the death of our young warriors and helpless women and 
children — the loss of our lands and our happiness. 

" Brothers, we are told by you, in your speech to us, that you wish 
to know our situation, and in what manner you could be of service to us 
— we are poor and pitiful indeed — destructive war has caused many of 
our families to be scattered abroad in the wilderness, insomuch, that we 
can scarcely find their places of residence. Our once peaceful villages 
exist no more. Our paths, which once were covered with flowers, are now 
full of thorns, and stained with the blood of our young warriors and our 
helpless women and children. We have almost considered ourselves as 
last men, and thrown our bodies away, but by the advice of our brother, 
Jonathan Shefflin, and the assistance of the Great Spirit, we will now 
assemble ourselves together, and form an extensive village on the plains 
of the White river. Speeches are this day sent to our brethren for that 
purpose, and we hope that by the next summer, we shall all be assem- 
bled at that place, when we will point out the means of your assisting 
us. 

" Brothers, may the great regulator of all things, he who knows the 
hearts and minds of all men, so dispose the hearts and minds of our 
Quaker brethren, that they may never be induced to withdraw their 



27 

friendship and counsel from men who by their ignorance, are easily led 
astray by the songs of the bad birds — men who are real objects of pity, 
and who require the protection of their white brethren more at this 
time than ever." 

Signed by Buckingeheles, and six other Chiefs of the Delaware na- 
tion. 

These Indian chiefs, before alluded to, were presented with suitable 
presents previous to their leaving Philadelphia, as a token of brotherly 
regard entertained for the natives of the land, — and some time after 
the committee wrote to the Delaware nation, strongly recommending 
them to betake themselves to the cultivation of the earth to procure 
sustenance, and in allusion to the time of their first intercourse with 
Friends in the early settlement of the country, they say ; 

" Brothers, at that time the white inhabitants were few and inclined 
to peace; since then, they have increased to a great number, amongst 
whom we and our brethren are but as a handful. Yet the good Spirit 
who taught our forefathers to cultivate peace with the Indians and all 
men, still teaches us the same ; therefore, we can take no part in the 
war with any people, and our influence in the great councils of our 
nation is very small — but we use our endeavours to persuade men to 
live in peace, and have brotherly love towards each other." 

In the First month, 1802, the Little Turtle and several other chiefs 
of the Miami and Pottawattamie nations, again visited Philadelphia, 
when Friends had satisfactory conferences with them, in which the 
Little Turtle renewed in a pathetic manner his request for some as- 
sistance to be given his nation, to accelerate their improvement in civil- 
ization. Suitable advice was given them on this subject, accompanied 
with some presents: but these nations lived more within the vicinity of 
Friends of Baltimore Yearly Meeting, who had formed similar plans to 
improve the condition of the Indian natives; it was therefore concluded 
by their committee, to extend aid to some of the nations north-west of 
the river Ohio — of which some account may be given hereafter. 

Early in the spring of 1802, a number of the Indians of the Delaware 
and Shawneese nations came to Philadelphia, and in their conferences 
with Friends, renewed their requests for assistance in procuring some 
necessary articles, and particularly that they might be furnished with 
a schoolmaster in their towns to instruct their children. 

These people, being the immediate descendents from those tribes who 
were very friendly and kind to our ancestors in the early settlement of 
Pennsylvania, seemed to have a special claim upon Friends. Accord- 
ingly, they were furnished with a considerable amount in money, and 
goods adapted to their wants. Suitable advice was given them, en- 



28 

couraging them to cultivate their land, and raise cattle, hogs, and other 
useful animals. They lived at so remote a distance, that Friends had 
no expectation of any one of their people going among them in the ca- 
pacity of schoolmaster. 

In the conclusion of their reply to Friends, they say: 
" May the great good Spirit above protect you for the favours you 
have shown us. The present you have made us will put us in grateful 
remembrance of you for ever." 

Thus we see, in this short account of the correspondence with the 
Indians, of various and distant nations to the westward, (of which much 
more might have been said,) not only their strong attachment to the 
society of Friends, but their determination to live in peace with the 
people of the United States. We also may discover their destitute and 
miserable situation, in consequence of the ravages of war, and the wide 
field of labour that opens for the benevolent and philanthropic mind to 
extend the empire of civilization and knowledge, to these untutored 
sons of the forest. It was a pleasing reflection, at that time, that the 
benign influence of the prince of peace had so softened the hearts of 
men, that measures were contemplated by the rulers of our land to 
extend the blessings of civilization to these aborigines of our country; 
to reclaim them from their savage habits and induce them to adopt the 
innocent employments of the pastoral and agricultural life. But alas ! 
the subsequent policy of the general government, combined with the 
interested motives of individual states, too sorrowfully demonstrate 
that their fate is inevitably fixed — the decree has gone forth — they 
must recede before the giant march of white population ; and however 
strong their attachment to their native soil, and reluctant to abandon 
the homes of their fathers, be compelled to retreat further and further 
into the dreary abodes of an unknown wilderness, and to seek an asylum 
among more savage and barbarous tribes, towards the setting sun. 

We cannot but express an ardent desire, that the great controller of 
human affairs may yet so dispose the hearts of the rulers of our country 
to feelings of humanity, towards the miserable remnants of the Indian 
tribes, yet within the state governments — that they may preserve invio- 
late the faith of the United States, solemnly pledged at the formation 
of the federal constitution, to protect them in their unalienable rights 
and privileges, as the aboriginal owners of the soil; for it is an incontro- 
vertible truth, "that national evils will produce national calamities." 

I shall now resume the narrative of the proceedings of Friends in 
improving the condition of the Indians which has been progressing under 
the direction of the committee of the Yearly Meeting, for more than 
thirty years, among the Seneca nation. 



29 



First settlement of Friends among the Seneca nation of Indians. 

The noted chief Cornplanter, having, as we have already stated, 
opened the way for the introduction of the agricultural arts among his 
tribe, in the spring of the year 1798, three young men, who offered 
themselves to go and instruct them, accompanied by two of the com- 
mittee, proceeded to his settlement. After a long journey, and much 
of the way through (then) a wilderness country, they arrived at Corn- 
planter's village, on the Alleghany river, the seventeenth of the Fifth 
month. The chief having previous knowledge of their coming, ex- 
pressed his thankfulness to the Great Spirit for their preservation on 
the way and safe arrival among them. They were kindly invited into 
his house, and inquired of whether they could eat Indian's provisions, 
and being answered in the affirmative, they were hospitably entertained 
with the best he could offer them; but made a very temperate meal. 

This village, (which was called in their language) Jemuhshadago, 
(which means burnt house,) stood on the bank of the Alleghany river, 
about four miles south of the nothern boundary of Pennsylvania. The 
land had a rich bottom, and appeared favourable for cultivation. The 
village contained about thirty or forty houses and. bark cabins, scat- 
tered along the margin of the river, without any regard to a regular 
arrangement. The venerable chief appeared to live in patriarchal 
style; his house was not distinguished from any of the rest by any tokens 
of magnificence, except by being somewhat larger — near it stood a 
wooden image of a man, round which at stated times they performed 
their religious ceremonies and sacrifices. 

The image was about seven feet in height, elevated on a pedestal, 
of the same block, and being painted a variety of colours, it altogether 
exhibited a wild appearance. 

The Indians had, perhaps, from two to three hundred acres of land, 
inclosed with a sort of fence round the town, in which inclosure many 
of their women were industriously engaged in clearing off the rubbish 
and planting small patches of corn and beans, while the men were 
standing in companies sporting themselves with their bows and arrows 
and other trifling amusements, but none of them were seen assisting 
their women in the labours of the field. 

The Indians appeared to live poor and dirty, and it was said to be a 
time of scarcity among them, and the greater part of them under Corn- 
planter's superintendence, estimated at about four hundred, had deserted 
their old settlements up the river, and come to live with their chief in 
this place. 

As it was necessary for Friends to have a general council with the 



30 

Indians, in order to explain their views and the object of their coming 
among them, the day after their arrival, they assembled in council at 
the chief's house, about forty of their principal men, with many others. 
Cornplanter opened the council by a short speech, expressing his thank- 
fulness for the safe arrival of Friends, and the joy he felt when he saw 
them come out of the bushes the day before, to see their Indian bro- 
thers, who were poor and living in bad houses, covered with bark; and 
they were not able to build them better. 

Friends now made them fully acquainted with the nature of their 
mission, that it was in order to improve the condition of the Indian na- 
tives, and to teach them the ways of good and honest white people, that 
they, with their wives and children, might be enabled to live more com- 
fortably, and be relieved from the distresses and difficulties to which 
they had been subjected by their old habits and modes of living — that 
these young men had concluded to leave their friends and comfortable 
dwellings, and remain for a time in the Indian country, in order to in- 
instruct them in the cultivation of their land, in the raising and manag- 
ing of cattle, and also to example them in a life of sobriety and industry. 
They were also informed, that Friends had a variety of farming uten- 
sils, carpenters' tools, &c. coming up the river, in a boat, which were 
intended for their benefit, in a hope, that the Indians, with Friends' in- 
struction, would diligently apply themselves to the use of them, that 
by so doing they might come to reap the plentiful fruits of industry; 
and that this was the sole object Friends had in view, having no desire 
for their lands, their skins, their furs, or any other part of their sub- 
stance. 

To these propositions the Indians seemed to express a general assent; 
but took the subjects under serious consideration, until next day, when 
near evening they admitted Friends again to the council house, when 
Cornplanter on behalf of the natives made a reply, from which we ex- 
tract the following. 

" Brothers, the Quakers, listen now to what I am going to say to you. 
You know, brothers, the red people are poor ; they are not like the 
white people. The Great Spirit has made them of another language, 
so that it is very hard for us to understand one another plainly, as we 
have no good interpreter. 

" Brothers, we suppose the reason you came here was to help the 
poor Indians in some way or other, and you wish the chiefs to tell their 
warriors not to go on so bad as they have done heretofore, and you also 
wish us to take up work like the white people, and cultivate our land. 
Now brothers, some of our sober men will take up work and do as you 
say, and if they do well, then will your young men stay longer amongst 
us, but some others will not mind what you say. 



31 

" Brothers, we cannot say a word against you. It is the best way to 
call Quakers brothers. You never wished our lands, therefore we are 
determined to learn your ways, and these young men may stay here 
two years, and then if they like it and we like it, your young men may 
stay longer." 

In reply they were informed, that the young men would want some 
house to live in, and a piece of land to work, in order to set the Indians 
an example and raise something for themselves to live upon ; but that 
the land should still be the Indians, and all the improvements they put 
upon it should be theirs, when Friends left it. They were also informed 
that the tools and implements of husbandry which were intended for 
their use, would be under the care of the young men, to lend to such 
Indians as wanted to use them, rather than to distribute them among 
them as presents ; offering this reason, " that if they were given to them 
some of them might barter them away for whiskey," as divers instances 
of intoxication had been noticed among them. 

On the twenty-first of the Fifth month, Friends, with Cornplanter in 
company, and several other Indians, passed up the river about nine 
miles in canoes, in order to look out for a settlement. They came to 
an ancient village called Genesinguhta, which was nearly deserted by 
the Indians — only three or four families remaining. The bottoms along 
the river side appeared fertile, though much grown over with bushes, 
and covered with abundance of fallen timber. Yet it was considered 
the most eligible place for Friends to settle, in order to be of benefit to 
the Indians, as it was on the land belonging to the nation, and where 
they intended to have a reservation located of forty-two square miles. 

This conclusion being proposed to Cornplanter, and he queried with, 
" whether he was willing Friends should start their fence at the river 
side," and enclose a piece of land they pointed out to him — to which 
he replied, " I told you, brothers, the land was all before you, to choose 
where you please; but he thought that was the best place for Friends 
to settle, and this man, said he, (in whose house they then were) is very 
glad you are going to settle so near him — he is very sober man, he is 
like you, he drinks no whiskey." He was then inquired of whether 
Friends might have liberty to cut timber in the woods for the use of 
the farm, to which he replied, " I wish you would cut all the trees 
down, and I will give you another liberty, if you see a deer you may 
shoot him, and you may catch fish in the river." 

The place being finally agreed upon, several old Indian cabins were 
included in it, and one occupied by a family, which was well situated 
to accommodate Friends; the owners of it were amply compensated. 
The family immediately moved out their goods and chattels, which 
(though apparently some of their best livers,) consisted chiefly in ho- 



'YZ 

mony blocks and pounders, a brass, kettle or two, some wooden bowls, 
and ladles, a leathern sack of bear's oil, a basket of corn, some blankets, 
and a few deer skins. 

On the twenty-third of the month, Friends settled in their new ha- 
bitation and made some preparations for a garden. The women of 
Cornplanter's village, to show their hearty and good will in the under- 
taking, had previously made a collection of some seed — corn, potatoes, 
beans, squashes, and a variety of other garden seeds which they pre- 
sented as a present to Friends, observing " that it was very hard to 
come so far and have nothing to begin with." 

Previous to the two Friends of the committee leaving this station, 
another council was had with the Indians, in which they were strongly 
recommended to industry, and reminded of the unreasonableness of their 
present practice of letting their women work all day in the fields and 
woods, either in cultivating with the hoe, all that was raised for their sus- 
tenance, or in cutting^ firewood and bringing it home on their backs 
from a considerable distance, while they themselves were spending their 
time in idleness, amusing themselves with their bows and arrows, and 
other useless practices. They were also particularly expostulated with 
on various subjects relative to their civil and moral conduct, and espe- 
cially in regard to their excessive use of strong drink, to which Friends 
in many instances had been eye witnesses. Cornplanter again replied 
to the communications of Friends, and at a subsequent parting oppor- 
tunity, told the two Friends of the committee, that " They might make 
their minds perfectly easy about their young men, for although he could 
not answer for sickness or death, he should look upon it his duty to be 
their friend, and that they might depend upon him as such, and no harm 
should happen to them from any of his people." 

On the thirty-first of the month, the boat arrived from Pittsburgh 
with the goods and implements of husbandry; and notwithstanding the 
late season for planting, and the ground being to clear of abundance of 
old logs and rubbish, Friends were enabled to get a small patch of corn 
and potatoes planted, and a variety of garden vegetables. The land 
being fertile, they soon had a pleasing prospect of the fruits of their 
labour, as well as of showing the natives the beneficial effects of their 
mode of cultivation. 

The Indians were much pleased to see the ground so much easier 
prepared for seed by the plough, than in their usual way of hoeing. 
Great numbers of them came flocking about Friends, especially the 
women, who appeared kind and respectful, frequently supplying them 
with venison, fish, strawberries, and such other delicacies, as their coun- 
try afforded — and Friends distributed among them a variety of useful 
articles, such as needles, thread, scissors, combs, spectacles, &c. which 



33 

were sent for that purpose, and were received by the natives with lively 
marks of gratitude. These presents had a powerful effect in gaining 
their confidence, and keeping up a friendly intercourse, which frequently 
afforded suitable opportunities of giving them instruction. 

A number of the Indians also borrowed carpenters' tools, to enable 
them to build better houses, and also some farming utensils, with a view 
of using them. 

From the little experience Friends already had, it was evident the 
ruinous effects of spirituous liquors among the Senecas, together with 
the natural propensity of the men to an indolent and improvident life, 
would operate as a serious discouragement in the view of Friends, to- 
wards ameliorating their condition. Therefore every suitable oppor- 
tunity was embraced to impress upon the minds of their chiefs the ne- 
cessity of prohibiting altogether, the introduction of spirituous liquors 
into their villages, as the first effectual step towards their improvement 
in the domestic arts. This counsel was in a good degree carried into 
effect ; and by the exertions of their chiefs in a little time, such prohi- 
bition took place as evidently tended to their advantage, and the great 
encouragement of Friends in their arduous undertaking. A hope was 
entertained that, although their improvement, at first was small, yet as 
they come to taste the sweets of industry, and enjoy the benefit of their 
labours, they would gradually relinquish their former pursuits, and fol- 
low the example Friends were setting before them. 

Divers of the Indians early manifested a disposition to have better 
houses to live in; and being furnished with the necessary tools, they 
were also afforded the requisite assistance and instruction. Several of 
them constructed in the course of this summer, much better houses than 
they had been accustomed to, and manifested a considerable share of 
ingenuity in the use of the carpenter's tools. And while Friends were 
employed on their farm, the Indians would frequently come about them, 
and sometimes take hold of their tools and work a little — some of the lads 
were pleased with driving the horses, and every opportunity was embraced 
to prevail on them to love labour; but their natural proneness to idle- 
ness and trifling diversions soon evinced, that patience and perseverance 
on the part of Friends, were essentially necessary to inculcate in the 
minds of the natives, just ideas of civilized life, the great stimulus thereto 
being yet wanting, as they had not sufficiently acquired ideas of distinct 
propriety, nor tasted the sweets resulting therefrom. 

In the course of this summer, divers reports were propagated among 
the Indians that Friends had a selfish motive, and in the end meant to 
defraud them of their land. This to a people who had long been sub- 
jected to suffering by the intrigue of designing men, could not fail of 
making impressions on the minds of some who were rather unfriendly 
5 



to civilization, and to induce them to scrutinize very narrowly the con- 
duct of Friends towards them. These groundless reports, however, 
were contradicted, and Friends were enabled to satisfy the Indians 
generally, that no such design was contemplated; and it rather had the 
effect to increase their confidence in us. 

Besides attending to the business of the farm, and the various and 
frequent calls of the Indians, the young men were enabled to build for 
themselves a comfortable house, two stories high, with a cellar under 
it. Being the first of the kind, perhaps some of the natives had ever 
seen, it excited great admiration among them. 

The Indian women had raised, in their usual way, a considerable 
quantity of corn this summer, in small patches, interspersed among the 
bushes, wherever they found the most favourable spot to cultivate. In 
the fall, they were busily employed in collecting it with their other 
produce of vegetables, and carrying it home to their dwellings, where 
it was carefully laid by for use. 

One of the Friends opened a school at Cornplanter's village, and re- 
mained there through the winter. At times, nearly twenty children 
attended, and made some progress in learning to spell and read ; but as 
their parents had but little control over them, they were very irregular 
in their attendance, and no great progress in learning was made. The 
Friend was at times otherwise usefully engaged in aiding and assisting 
the Indians of that village. 

In the Twelfth month, after a considerable snow had fallen, most of 
the Indians retired to the woods to their hunting grounds, many of them 
taking their families with them. Game was now plentiful. Some of 
their best hunters killed near one hundred deer, and some even more 
than that number; taking off the skins and leaving much of the meat 
scattered about in the woods. What was collected to their camps, 
was through much hardship and fatigue to their poor women, whose 
task it was to carry it on their backs through deep snows, and often 
over hills and mountains. 

About the middle of the First month, they generally came home to 
their villages from their hunting excursions, when they made a feast, 
and performed their religious ceremonies and sacrifices. 

In the course of this winter, a chief of the Cattaraugus village, ano- 
ther branch of the Seneca nation about forty-five miles distant, called 
on Friends at Alleghany. They had a favourable opportunity of impres- 
sing his mind with the advantages that would result to his people by 
cultivating their land, as they possessed a country so favourable for 
agriculture, and raising cattle and other useful animals. He informed 
Friends, they were very anxious to have a saw-mill built on their land, 
and wished to have somebody to instruct them how to go on with their 






35 

business; that when they saw and heard what improvements were 
making at Alleghany, it made them anxious to go to work. 

Soon after his return home, Friends received a written speech from 
the council at Cattaraugus, signed by six chiefs, in which they strongly 
solicited instructors to be sent among them, and also that they might 
be furnished with a set of saw-mill irons. This address being forwarded 
to the committee at Philadelphia, together with an account of their 
situation, it was concluded to furnish them with a set of saw-mill irons, 
whenever they should be ready to make use of them. 

Early in the spring of 1799, more of a spirit of industry seemed to 
exhibit itself among some of the Indians, and several who were settled 
near Friends began to work at splitting rails, and fencing in lots of land, 
as they saw Friends fence in theirs. Some who inclined to work, that 
had no families, were employed at the business of the farm, and seemed 
capable of doing as much in a day as the generality of white people. 

The use of whiskey and other strong drink had considerably de- 
creased among the Indians, in the course of the last year, and many of 
their chiefs seemed desirous of preventing its introduction into their 
village. Notwithstanding which, as many of them went down the river 
in the spring to Pittsburgh and other places, to dispose of their skins, 
furs, &c. which they had taken during the late winter, they brought 
in return for their peltry, kegs full of this destructive article — although 
Friends had cautioned them against it, previous to their going away — 
with this many of them were for a considerable time intoxicated, so 
that little could be done in promoting their improvement while the 
liquor lasted. 

It was believed expedient, from this affecting circumstance, to have 
their chiefs and principal men collected in council, and to remonstrate 
against such conduct as well as to encourage them to avail themselves 
of the present opportunity of gaining instruction in the cultivation of 
their land. 

At this interview, Friends seriously expostulated with them on vari- 
ous subjects relative to their moral conduct, and endeavours were used 
seriously to impress on their minds the evil consequences of introducing 
so much strong liquor into their villages, and that it greatly obstructed 
their improvement in agriculture, because for it they bartered away 
their money and other articles with which they ought to purchase 
horses, and cattle, and implements of husbandry, to enable them to till 
their land; and that this operated as a serious discouragement to Friends 
in their arduous undertaking to instruct them. 

The Indians appeared seriously attentive in this council, being con- 
victed in their minds of the truth of what had been declared to them, 
and in a few days after, they met in council again, and informed Friends 



that they had seriously considered the subjects proposed to them, and 
that their chiefs had come to a resolution not to permit, for the future, 
any of their people to bring liquor into their villages to sell to one 
another ; that they had appointed two young chiefs to watch over the 
rest,*and to endeavour to promote good order among them — and they 
desired Friends to be easy in their minds respecting them, for they were 
determined to take their advice and try to do better; that they had 
made inquiry among themselves, and could find no fault in Friends, or 
discover any fraud in any of their actions, but on the contrary, that the 
fault and bad conduct had all been on their own side, but now they 
were determined to quit those bad practices, and to assist their women 
in the labours of the field. 

A set of smith's tools was procured, and a smith shop erected at 
Friends' settlement this season, which was found useful in repairing the 
Indians' tools. In the course of this summer, divers of the men assisted 
their women in the labours of the field. Their crops of corn were 
larger than they had been before ; but as yet, none of them had at- 
tempted to use the plough for themselves, though Friends had ploughed 
some small lots for them with which they were much pleased, and a 
hope was entertained that the next year some of them would take hold 
of the plough and commence farming. A school house was built at 
Cornplanter's village, and the Friend stationed there, continued through 
the summer, instructing the children, and otherwise affording aid and 
counsel to the Indians — and two Friends at Genesinguhta, besides set- 
ting the Indians a proper example in the improvement of their own 
farm, afforded them assistance and instruction in many ways, as con- 
venient opportunities presented, and many of the Indians by this time 
had built good log houses, and generally covered them with shingles. 
Cornplanter had a saw-mill of his own, worked on the shares by a white 
man; this afforded the Indians an opportunity of procuring boards to 
complete their houses. 

In the Ninth month this year, the settlement was visited by four of 
the committee, one of whom had been there when the settlement was 
first formed, and was the better qualified to judge of the improvement 
made by the Indians. 

They had a council with the Indians, and encouraged them to per- 
severe in the attempt they had already made to become farmers; and 
expressed the satisfaction it afforded them, to see the improvement they 
had made, and that their stock of cattle was increased, and especially, 
with the wise resolution they had formed, to prevent strong drink from 
being brought into their villages. The Indians were also informed, that 
the young man who resided at Cornplanter's village, was desirous of 



37 

leaving them and returning home to his friends before winter — and it 
was hoped another would come forward and supply his place. 

Cornplanter, on behalf of the Indians replied, in substance, that when 
Friends first settled among them, some of his chiefs were averse to it; 
but they had had this summer several councils among themselves, re- 
specting the young men, and all the chiefs seeing their good conduct, 
and readiness to assist Indians, were now well satisfied. He hoped that 
several of his young men would do more at farming than heretofore, 
and that Friends would not get discouraged, because so little was done; 
but exercise patience towards them, as it was hard for them to make 
much change from their ancient customs. He regretted the loss of the 
Friend who was about to leave them, and said he had been useful to him 
in keeping whiskey and other strong liquor out of their town ; that they 
now drank much less than formerly, but he feared when the Friend 
went away, he should not be able to prevent its use so well as he had 
lately done. 

The deputation from the committee went from this place to Catta- 
raugus, the residence of those Indians who had requested a set of saw- 
mill irons, and other aid ; but the chiefs being generally from home, 
they were addressed by a letter, giving them suitable advice on. various 
subjects, relative to their improvement. 

In the latter end of the Tenth month, Cornplanter accompanied the 
Friend who had lived at his village, on his way as far as Canandaigua, 
where the superintendent of Indian affairs resided. At this place, he 
dictated a letter to one of the committee; the superintendent wrote it, 
and Cornplanter signed it with his mark. The following is extracted 
from it. 

" I thank the Great Spirit for his protection in preserving me and 
my friend whom I have accompanied to this place. I hope the Great 
Spirit will still preserve my friend on his journey to Philadelphia, and 
every evening when night shall overtake him, that the Great Spirit 
will spread over him the curtain of safety, — that he may again meet 
the society that sent him among us, for the purpose of teaching us the 
useful arts of the white people; and that he may return to them my 
kind thanks, for the kind offices which they are disposed to bestow on 
us. I cannot omit this favourable opportunity to inform Friends that 
I believe the young men placed at the Alleghany, have discharged the 
trust committed to them, in endeavouring to do the best they could for 
our advantage. 

"Dear friends, when I first heard your voice, and learned your kind 
offers to us, I was pleased; as I thought we were apt to transgress the good 
rules of the Great Spirit, and by the aid and advice of your people, the 
Great Spirit would lend us his aid, by which we might become a better 



38 

people. I hope you will not be discouraged, in still aiding us, although 
we make slow progress in the arts of the white people." 

The two Friends at Alleghany were enabled this fall, for the first 
time, to sow several acres of wheat and rye, and several of the Indians 
manifested a disposition to labour, by aiding them in gathering in their 
summer crops. 

Near the close of this year, the two Friends residing among the In- 
dians received a letter from the chiefs at Cattaraugus, expressive of 
their great satisfaction, for the advice contained in the letter which had 
been left for them last fall, and the great joy that they felt at the pros- 
pect of receiving instruction and assistance from the Quakers. 

These Indians were much addicted to intemperance, and although 
much more favourably situated than the Alleghany Indians, to make 
progress in the agricultural arts, yet they were in a poor and destitute 
situation, and did not appear to make use of the advantages within their 
power, to assist themselves. It was, therefore, believed right, in reply 
to their letter, to urge the necessity of their abstaining from intempe- 
rate practices, and of making use of the means in their power to better 
their condition. 

Therefore the two Friends wrote to them nearly as follows: 
" Brothers, we are glad to hear that you have come to a resolution 
to lay up so much of your money, to buy cattle and other useful arti- 
cles, and that you seem determined to quit drinking whiskey, and not 
to allow traders to sell it on your ground. Now brothers, this is a very 
wise resolution, and we hope you will be sincere and keep to it. We 
hope that some of you have got your eyes open, to see that whiskey 
and other strong drink have been the cause of much evil and wicked- 
ness among you, and that these pernicious things have taken much of 
your money, your skins, and your furs, which the Great Spirit has fa- 
voured you with, and with which you might buy clothing, and oxen, 
and axes, hoes, and other useful articles to assist you in tilling the field, 
and we fear, in time past, it has taken some of the corn your poor 
women have worked hard at raising, with .their hoes. 

" Brothers, you know there are many white people who love money, 
and they know that you love, whiskey, and this is the way they take 
to get your money and property from you. But if you keep to your 
resolution not to drink it, then there will be no danger. You may then 
have oxen and ploughs, with which you may plough your ground and 
raise a great deal of corn, and you may also buy axes and hoes, and 
other useful implements of husbandry to farm with. And then when 
your friends the Quakers see that you are trying to help yourselves, 



39 

and that you make good use of your money, it will encourage them to 
help you more. 

" Brothers, we desire you often to think upon the Great Spirit, and 
pray to him in your hearts, and then he will show you what is good and 
what is evil. And we want you to take up work like the white people, 
for your land is very good, and would produce a great deal of grain if 
properly managed — and if you get plenty of cattle and sheep, and 
swine, they will afford you plenty of meat, and be much more certain 
than the elk, the deer, and the bear. Then will your old men, your 
wives and your children be happy, and enjoy the comforts of life, and 
you can look on your flocks and ypur fields with contentment and plea- 
sure." 

These Indians, in addition to the set of saw-mill irons before promised, 
were furnished with some axes, hoes, and a set of plough irons, to en- 
courage them in farming. 

A school was kept at Genesinguhta, this winter, by one of the Friends, 
where a number of children attended, and made some progress in learn- 
ing — also a grown person w r ho was debilitated in body, resided with 
Friends throughout the winter, and being able to converse a little in the 
English language, acquired so much learning as to enable him to read and 
write, and afterwards to procure a living, by trading among the Indians. 

In the spring of 1800, the Indians appeared somewhat animated, and 
more of them made preparation for farming, by scattering more from 
their villages, fencing in lots and clearing land; but not yet having 
working animals to plough their ground, Friends ploughed some 
small lots for them, which operated as a stimulus to them; and one In- 
dian took hold of the plough, and began to manage it himself, which 
was viewed as a matter of some surprise, and excited great curiosity 
in the beholders. 

In the Fifth month, this spring, two of the Friends who had left the 
Oneida settlement the preceeding winter, as before stated, being willing 
to spend some more time among the Indians, proceeded to Alleghany, 
to unite with Friends there in promoting the welfare of the natives. 

Soon after their arrival, the Indians at Cattaraugus requested Friends 
at Alleghany to give them some advice and assistance, about planning 
a saw-mill. Accordingly two Friends proceeded to that settlement, and 
gave such advice on the occasion as seemed to be requisite; the mill- 
wrights having already arrived, and commenced the building of a saw- 
mill. 

As these Indians will in the sequel constitute an interesting part of the 
narrative of this concern, it seems proper in this place to give a more 
particular account of their situation. The Senecas here possess a re- 
servation of forty-two square miles, part of it bounded by lake Erie. It 



40 

Is generally composed of land of a superior quality. The bottoms along 
the Cattaraugus river produce black and white walnut and sugar ma- 
ple of a superior size. The higher land, abounds with white oak, white 
pine, bass, poplar, hickory, and other timber. There are, also, exclu- 1 
sive of the Indians' corn fields, large openings like natural meadows, 
containing many hundred acres of excellent land* covered with abund- 
ance of grass and herbage, affording abundance of food for cattle. The 
Senecas at this place were said to be about one hundredand sixty in num- 
ber. Their houses were made in the usual Indian style, and covered with 
bark, and their situation, in general, as to habits and living, much similar 
to those at Alleghany, when Friends first settled among them. About 
a mile from the Seneca village was a town of the Delawares, (more 
frequently called Memsies) about one hundred and sixty in number, 
who lived on sufferance on the Seneca Indians' land. 

These Indians, as well as the Senecas, had a considerable number of 
cattle, some horses, and abundance of poultry and swine. They had 
small enclosures round their villages, in which they kept their stock 
during the corn season, and sometimes the poor animals had but a scanty 
supply of fodder, notwithstanding the abundance of grass on their lands, 
from which, for want of a little labour to fence off their corn lots, they 
had little or no benefit during the summer. 

Previous to leaving them, the two Friends had an interview with a 
number of their chiefs, and principal men and women, in which they 
were encouraged to industry, and to put in practice their good resolu- 
tions. Being informed by one of the Friends present, that he was 
shortly going to leave their country and return to his friends, one of the 
chiefs replied, " You may tell your old friends, the Quakers at Phila- 
delphia, when you go home, that we are exceedingly thankful for the 
kindness you have shown us, and the assistance you have already given 
us. We are now determined to follow your advice as far as we are 
able, and to spill all the whiskey traders bring among us for sale. You 
must not think we are offended at you for trying to make us sensible 
of our weaknesses; for even our young men and young women rejoice 
to hear it, and are in hopes their hands will grow stronger, that they 
may be able to overcome their weaknesses. We are determined to try 
to help ourselves, and to lay up money to purchase useful articles to go 
to farming with. We pity our poor women, and see it is too hard for 
them to work in the hot sun, and do all the labours of the field. And 
although we cannot ask any more favours of you, yet one thing in par- 
ticular we desire you to remember; that is, that we are a poor, igno- 
rant people, and for want of learning, in the course of our dealings with 
the white people, we have been greatly wronged, and lost much of our 



41 

property — we want some of our children instructed, that they may be 
able to do the business of our nation." 

On the fourteenth of the Sixth month, Friends had a council with 
the Indians at Alleghany, in which the two 'Friends lately came into 
their country, were introduced to them, and also informed that one of 
the Friends who had now been more than two years among them, was 
about to return home to his friends. Several matters were opened to 
encourage them to persevere in habits of industry, and to be strong in 
their resolutions against the use of spirituous liquors, over which they 
had, by this time, gained a great conquest. 

A few days after this, Cornplanter and several other chiefs, called to 
see the Friend who was leaving them set out on his journey, and sent 
three of their people to accompany him on his way through the wilder- 
ness. 

In their parting conference, Cornplanter expressed many thanks for 
the Friend's services among them, and desired the Great Spirit might 
conduct him safely home to his relations, and that on his arrival he 
might inform his old friends, the Quakers in Philadelphia, that he was 
very thankful for their kind endeavours to instruct his people in a life 
of civilization, and he believed the Great Spirit above was pleased with 
it. 

During the summer of 1800, the Indians made some further improve- 
ments, and seemed more disposed to relinquish their old habits. A voke 
of oxen, which they purchased, were found very useful in drawing their 
firewood, and thereby relieving some of their women from heavy bur- 
thens ; several of them procured cows. By this time many of the In- 
dians had built themselves more comfortable houses, and began to assist 
their women in their agricultural labours, so that a gradual improve- 
ment was evident among them in the habits of civilized life. 

In the following winter, Red Jacket, a Seneca chief, residing at Buf- 
falo creek, with several other chiefs of the Seneca nation, visited Phi- 
ladelphia, with whom Friends had a satisfactory interview. Suitable 
presents were given them, among which, was a set of saw-mill irons, 
which were particularly requested by Red Jacket. 

In the spring of 1801, a greater spirit of industry seemed to manifest 
itself among the Indians. Divers more of them fenced in lots, and pro- 
cured moreover, some working animals; their increasing attention to 
raising cattle and hogs, afforded a pleasing prospect; and was a strong 
inducement for them to scatter more from their villages, and realize 
the advantages of settling on separate tracts of land. 

Circumstances, however, occurred among the Indians, which claimed 
the particular attention of the committee, and three Friends were de- 
puted to visit the settlement. They proceeded there in the Ninth 
6 



42 

month, accompanied by a young Friend, a blacksmith, who offered his 
services to instruct some of the Indians in his useful occupation. 

Previous to giving a detail of this interview, it seems necessary to 
observe, that some extraordinary ideas respecting witchcraft had pre- 
vailed among the natives for sometime, which were principally insinu- 
ated among them by an infirm old man named Cannedin, a half brother 
to Cornplanter, who had the appearance of a simple man, and had been 
from his youth very intemperate. He had no influence in the nation 
till about three years before, when, after a long time of sickness, he 
was supposed by the Indians to be several times in a trance. After he 
had recovered therefrom, he asserted that he had seen angels, who 
communicated to him such things as the Great Spirit designed should 
be imparted to the Indians — that they must all quit drinking whiskey 
and other strong liquors — that they must revive the custom of their 
forefathers in eating dog's flesh, and have frequent dances — per- 
forming their religious ceremonies, &c. This to a people naturally 
prone to superstition, was like oracles delivered from the Great Spirit, 
and to use their own language, " was the manner in which He was re- 
vealing his mind and will to the Indians." Cannedin had actually some 
of his imaginary interviews with the inhabitants of the spiritual world 
committed to writing, that they might keep it in remembrance, as the 
will of the Great Spirit concerning them. 

Cannedin frequently asserted that these heavenly messengers con- 
tinued to favour him with frequent interviews, and he succeeded in 
propagating a belief among the natives, that most of their bodily afflic- 
tions and disorders arose from witchcraft, and undertook to point out 
the individuals who had the power of inflicting these evils. He was 
said to have wholly declined the practice of drinking to excess, and by 
an artful exercise of his pretended knowledge, he acquired considerable 
influence in the nation, so as to be appointed high priest and chief Sa- 
chem in things civil and religious. 

Some of Cornplanter's family being in a declining state of health, 
Cannedin, (whom they now esteemed a great doctor, as well as a pro- 
phet,) was applied to for counsel. In his wild reveries he alleged that 
some of the Delaware Indians who lived at Cattaraugus possessed the 
power of witchcraft, and were the cause of their illness. 

This brought on a quarrel between the two tribes, and some of the 
Delawares were taken prisoners, and threatened with death if they did 
not remove the disorder. 

During the contention, Cornplanter wrote to the government of 
Pennsylvania on the occasion, and the committee on Indian affairs being 
made acquainted with the circumstances, letters both from the com- 
mittee and government were addressed to both tribes of Indians on the 



43 

subject. A council was called between the contending parties, and 
Friends, with some other well disposed people on the frontier settle- 
ments, used their influence to have an amicable adjustment, and en- 
deavoured to obliterate from the Indians' minds, those superstitious ideas 
of witchcraft which appeared to have been the ground of their uneasi- 
ness. The result was, that the Delawares were acquitted, and all 
disputes buried between them and the Senecas. Cornplanter told them 
" that he had swept their beds clean, that they might lie down in peace 
— that he had swept their houses clean, that they might live comfort- 
ably in them — that he had swept clean before their doors, that they 
might go out and in, without molestation." 

About the time that Friends of the committee arrived at Genesin- 
ghuta, the Indians generally were met in council, about these matters; 
and although Cannedin had advised them to quit drinking whiskey, he 
was otherwise endeavouring to propagate notions very inimical to the 
concern in which Friends were engaged, by recommending them to fol- 
low their old customs, and not allow their children to learn to read and 
write ; that they might farm a little, and build houses, but must not 
sell any thing which they raised on their land, but give it away to one 
another, and especially to their old people; and, in short, enjoy all 
things in common. 

With this doctrine several of the young chiefs and others were not 
satisfied ; and one of them judiciously observed, " they had better hold 
councils about fencing in fields, and clearing land, than about witchcraft, 
and other strange notions of Cannedin." 

The committee, who now visited the settlement, were pleased, on 
passing down the river, with the view offences, where not long before 
there were none to be seen ; and instead of the bark cabins, that for- 
merly stood in clusters along its banks, there were now good houses, 
with shingled roofs ; and the tinkling of cow bells, which they heard in 
various directions, denoted an increase of cattle, and had a cheering 
effect on their minds. It was in the spring of 1801, that the Indians 
first began to use the plough for themselves. They took a very cau- 
tious method of determining whether it was likely to be an advan- 
tageous change to them or not. Several parts of a large field were 
ploughed, and the intermediate spaces prepared by their women with 
the hoe, according to former custom. It was all planted with corn ; 
and the parts ploughed, (besides the great saving of labour,) produced 
much the heaviest crop; the stalks being more than a foot higher, and 
proportionably stouter than those on the hoed ground. The corn was 
now gathered in, and as their stock of cattle had much increased, in- 
stead of leaving their corn fodder to perish, as formerly, (hey preserved 
it for their cattle in winter — and several had mown grass, and made 



44 

small stacks of hay. They had made a fence, about two miles long, 
which enclosed the lower town, and a large body of adjacent land front- 
ing on the river, and several other fences were made within it, to sepa- 
rate the corn from the pasture ground. 

With the exception of houses and fences, the improvements at the 
lower town, (Jenuchshadaga) did not bear a comparison with the upper 
settlement, where the Indians lived more detached from each other. 
Their thus separating, was evidently more to their advantage, than 
crowding together in villages. A chief, who was not ashamed to be 
seen at work by the women of his own family, would probably have 
been much mortified when discovered by a number of other females, 
who on such occasions do not always refrain from ridicule. Yet this 
false shame on the part of the men, and ridicule of the women, gradu- 
ally wore away as they became familiarized to each others' assistance, 
in their little agricultural labours. 

The Indians now became very sober, generally refraining from the 
use of strong liquor, both at home and when abroad among the white 
people. One of them observed to Friends, " no more bark cabins, but 
good houses — no more get drunk here, now, this two year." 

The blacksmith was introduced to the Indians with a request that 
two of their young men would learn his business, so as to be qualified 
to do their own work; as it was not very likely he should stay long. 
But before they would agree to this proposition, they queried with 
Friends, " whether they would at any future time want land or money 
for the services which they had done, and were doing for them? They 
wished to know very clearly in writing about it. Also, whether they 
would leave the tools for the young men, who might learn the black- 
smiths' trade, when the smith left them, or whether they would take 
them away?" To which the following answer was given in writing: — 

" Brothers, we tell you now, plainly, as we told you before, that your 
brothers, the Quakers, do not want any of your land, or any of your 
money, or any of your skins, for any thing they have done for you; and 
they never will bring a charge against you, for any of these things. 
And we give you this writing, to keep forever, to make your minds per- 
fectly easy on ^his account. About the smiths' tools we cannot say 
much; but think we shall leave them with you, if some of your young 
men will learn the trade." 

At a subsequent interview, Cornplanter made a reply to Friends, in 
which he stated, "We understand the writing which you gave us very 
well, and our minds are now quite easy. Two of our young men will 
learn the smiths' trade; one from the lower town, and one from the 
upper." 



45 

Friends again opened the business respecting the schooling of their 
children, which had for sometime past been impeded by the system of 
Cannedin. The chiefs were particularly desired to take this subject 
under consideration, and let Friends know when they were ready. 

It was supposed that the quantity of corn raised this year by the 
natives, was nearly tenfold what it was when the settlement was first 
formed, and a few of the Indians made the first attempts to raise wheat; 
but those who did something at farming, occasionally went out a hunt- 
ing ; and many of the men still adhered to their ancient customs, and 
left the women of their families to cultivate with the hoe, what corn 
and vegetables were necessary for their sustenance. 

As one of the young men, who had been there from the time of first 
opening the settlement, was about to return home with the committee, 
Cornplanter expressed the great regard he had for him ; saying, " that, 
although he had been so long amongst them, not one of them was able 
to say a word against him, ever since he had been there — that his words 
and his conduct had been altogether good, and agreeable to them; and 
he hoped the Good Spirit would preserve him on his way home to his 
friends." 

The committee, also, on this visit, had an interview with the Indians 
of Cattaraugus. They arrived at a time when the Indians were per- 
forming their religious ceremonies — concerning which, the chief warrior, 
Waun-dun-guh-ta, made the following remark to Friends. 

" Brothers, you have come at a time which has by us been set apart 
for performing worship to the Good Spirit, after our ancient customs. 
It is our way of worship, and, to us, solemn and serious, and not to be 
made light of, however different it may be from your mode. It is the 
manner our forefathers have taught us. We hope you will excuse us 
for not being so attentive to you as we should, had we not been thus 
engaged." 

They had now their saw-mill completed, and one of the Friends from 
Alleghany remained sometime with them, instructing some of the In- 
dians in the sawing business. 

The spring of 1802, furnished greater marks of improvement, than 
had heretofore been discovered among the natives. Eighteen or twenty 
thousand rails were split, and put up into fences by the Indians, and 
thirteen or fourteen new lots enclosed, most of which were cleared this 
spring. Several families who had not any when this settlement was 
first formed, had got six or seven head of cattle, and other useful ani- 
mals. Whiskey was not knowingly suffered to be brought into the set- 
tlement; and if any were found out to have been intoxicated, when they 
were out in the white settlements, they were sharply reproved by the 



4G 

chiefs on their return, which had nearly the same effect among Indians, 
as committing a man to the workhouse among white people. The In- 
dians opened a good road for about five miles up the river from Friends' 
settlement, where before it was very difficult to travel, even on horse- 
back. Several of them sowed spring wheat — and a gradual improve- 
ment was apparent during this season. 

The benefits derived by the Senecas at Alleghany, from their atten- 
tion to agriculture, encouraged other branches of the nation to apply 
for assistance. The chief of the Tonewanta village, about one hundred 
miles distant from Friends' settlement at the Alleghany, in a pathetic 
speech, applied to Friends to assist them with saw-mill irons, farming 
utensils, &c. which request was granted, with the addition of a yoke of 
oxen, and chains. 

The young man who went out as a blacksmith, returned home this 
fall ; two of the Indians having acquired such knowledge of his busi- 
ness as to answer their necessities. 

Although the improvements at this place were gradually progressing, 
obstructive causes at times occurred, difficult to combat. This induced 
Friends, among them, to believe that a change made in their situation, 
so as to render them more independent of the natives, might subject 
them to less difficulty in the further prosecution of the concern. The 
improvement heretofore made on their own land, for a time, had a good 
effect; but their ideas were weak, and for want of more sensibility in 
some of the intentions of Friends towards them, it had led to a depend- 
ence, which evidently impeded their progress in civilization. This de- 
pendence seemed to increase, as they saw the increase of produce from 
the land that Friends cultivated. Some of the Indians had increased 
their stock of cattle faster than the means of supporting them through 
a long and rigorous winter. When their hay and other fodder become 
reduced, they applied to Friends to give them some. These requests 
could not be complied with, to an extent proportioned to their neces- 
sity, without reducing Friends to a like state of want ; and fearing, least 
in future winters, a renewal of similar requests, without the means of 
supplying them, might disturb that harmony which had hitherto sub- 
sisted between Friends and the Indians, it was thought adviseable by the 
committee to embrace an opportunity which now presented, of pur- 
chasing from a company of white people, an adjoining tract of land, in 
order to make such improvements thereon, as might accommodate a 
family or more, of such, who from time to time, might feel desirous to 
assist in the instruction of the Indians, and thus by making it a more 
permanent establishment, entirely independent of the natives, be en- 
abled to extend more efficient aid to other branches of the Seneca 
nation. 



47 

In the spring of 1803, this proposal of a removal of Friends' settle- 
ment was communicated to the Indians, and they generally coincided 
with it, provided the move should not be far up the river. They had 
several councils on the occasion, and communicated to Friends their 
views; and although their prophet, Cannedin, had, in time back, been 
somewhat opposed to the views of Friends in changing the customs of 
the Indians, he was now entirely friendly, and strongly recommended 
industry and perseverance in the plans which Friends had recommended 
to them. The following paragraphs from one of his speeches on this 
occasion, may be worthy of notice, 

u My friends, Quakers, attend. — It is now a long time since you first 
came amongst us. It has even exceeded the time that was first pro- 
posed. I now speak the united voice of our chiefs and warriors to you, 
of our women also, and of all our people. Attend, therefore, to what 
I say. We wish you to make your minds perfectly easy — we are all 
pleased with your living amongst us, and not one of us wants you to 
leave our country. We find no fault with you in any respect, since 
you come amongst us ; neither have we any thing to charge you with. 
You have lived peaceably and honestly with us, and have been pre- 
served in health, and nothing has befallen you. This we think is proof, 
also, that the Great Spirit is pleased with you living here, and with 
what you have done for us." 

" Friends, Quakers — we now all agree to leave you at full liberty, 
either to remain where you now are, on our land, or to remove up the 
river and settle on land of your own, only that you settle near us, that 
you may extend further assistance and instruction. For although we 
have received much benefit from you, and some of our people have 
made considerable advancement in useful labour, yet we remain very 
deficient in many things, and numbers of us are yet poor." 

As the important change proposed to be made in conducting the af- 
fairs at Alleghany, required serious consideration, four of the committee 
proceeded to that settlement, and on conferring with Friends there, were 
satisfied of the propriety of a removal from their present station, to one 
more independent of the Indians, and less subject to their control. 

A tract of land adjoining the Indians' reservation on Innesassa creek, 
which empties into the river on the east side, about two miles above 
Genesinghuta, was agreed upon, and afterwards purchased, as the most 
eligible place for a settlement ; inasmuch as it furnished an ample situ- 
ation for water works, and much of the tract was covered with excel- 
lent pine timber. The tract included about seven hundred acres. 

Friends had free and open conferences with the Indian* on the sub- 



48 

ject of their removal, and various other matters; and satisfactory ar- 
rangements were made respecting the old settlement, the Indians in- 
sisting on Friends' occupying the farm until they got suitable accom- 
modations, and provender for their stock, at their new settlement. 

In one of their conferences, Cornplanter observed : 

" Brothers, when your friends first came amongst us, and for a long 
time after, the white people told us, ' keep a good watch on those Qua- 
kers — they are a cunning, designing people ; and under pretence of 
doing something for you, want to get hold upon you, to make an advan- 
tage of you some way or other ;' but of late, finding that all was straight, 
and no advantage was attempted to be taken, they have left off talking 
about it. 

" Brothers, your young men do not talk much to us, but when they 
do they speak what is good, and have been very helpful in keeping us 
from using spirituous liquors." 

Here it may be proper to remark, that in the spring of 1798, an In- 
dian lad of the Tuscarora nation, from near the falls of Niagara, had 
been taken to Philadelphia, and placed with a Friend in Chester county, 
to learn the blacksmiths' business, where he continued till the last 
spring ; — and having acquired a competent knowledge of his trade, and 
made considerable proficiency in school learning, the Friend with whom 
he had been instructed, felt such an interest in his welfare, that he 
accompanied him home to his Indian friends, staid several weeks with 
him, to see him set up in his business, and assisted him therein. 

This Friend, on his return, had now been several weeks at Alleghany, 
affording the two Indian blacksmiths there, some further instruction in 
that art. They were very desirous he should tarry longer with them ; 
and an old chief observed, " Friends had now sent on a blacksmith, the 
best they had ever seen — he knows how to make all things we want." 
, Considerable improvement among the Indians at this time was ob- 
servable, more particularly up the river. Several families had settled 
about two miles higher up, than where they formerly resided, and had 
cleared and fenced in about sixty acres of land. Seventeen new houses 
with shingled roofs, were observed neatly built, with square logs, most 
of them two stories high, with stone chimneys and glass windows. They 
had about one hundred head of cattle, thirty horses, and several hun- 
dred hogs. And the Indians had opened a road, about twenty miles 
along the river, and much of it through heavy timber ; which was a 
great work for them. 

The committee proceeded from thence to Cattaraugus, and noticed 
considerable improvement in that settlement. Several of them were 
building good houses. Their crops of corn were good, and their stock of 
cattle increased ; and, generally speaking, they had declined the use of 



49 

strong drink. They had divers requests to make to Friends, some of 
which were granted ; especially one, for a set of smith tools and plough 
irons. While Friends were sitting with the chief warrior, he seemed 
in a pensive mood, and said he wished to ask them a question, hut he- 
sitated. They desired him to say on — It was, " Do the Quakers keep 
any slaves?" — He was answered in the negative. He said he was very 
glad to hear it ; for if they did, he could not think so well of them as 
he now did — that he had heen at the city of Washington last winter, 
on business of the nation, and found that many white people kept blacks 
in slavery, and used them no better than horses. 

The committee on their way home had interviews with the Buffalo 
and Tonewanta Indians, and gave them such advice and encourage- 
ment as their situation required. It was satisfactory to observe, from 
the account of Red Jacket and others of their chiefs, that some improve- 
ment was taking place among those Indians. 

Our friends at Alleghany built a temporary house at their new settle- 
ment this fall, to which they removed, which we shall hereafter call June- 
sassa. The land being heavily timbered, much exertion and labour 
were necessary, to make their situation tolerably comfortable during 
the first winter. 

In the spring of 1804, the Indians generally removed from the lower 
town, and settled higher up the river; several of them not far from Ju- 
nesassa. This removal subjected them to some inconveniences, the first 
year, but eventually proved much to their advantage ; especially to 
those who were detached from their little towns. 

As it was believed much benefit would result to the Indians from the 
erection of a grist mill on Friends' farm, there being none nearer than 
about forty miles, measures were adopted to have grist and saw-mills 
erected this summer ; and they were so far completed, as to be in ope- 
ration the ensuing winter, when the Indians had considerable grinding 
done, and were much pleased to see the grain reduced to meal so much 
quicker than by pounding it in wooden mortars. 

An Indian man, after having a grist of wheat of his own raising ground 
and bolted, said with animation, " I think this will make the Indians 
see day-light." 

In the course of this season, some dissentions took place among the 
Indians with regard to their chiefs. Several young men of considerable 
influence in the nation, and who were anxious to assume the reigns of 
government, became disaffected to Cornplanter, and taking measures to 
subvert his authority, artfully prevailed with the Indians to confer on 
themselves the dignified title of chiefs. This, among men whose rulers 
only hold their authority during the good will of the people, was not 
7 



50 

difficult to effect. In the mean time, Connediu, who had some time be- 
fore been promoted to the highest title in the nation, continued (as he 
said) his imaginary interviews with the inhabitants of the spiritual 
world, so that his fame spread abroad, and visits were paid to him from 
distant tribes. He also travelled to distant parts himself, and promul- 
gated his doctrines, (which happily were now become more innocent,) 
throughout the Seneca nation. 

In the latter end of the winter and spring of 1805, the Indians ex- 
perienced much damage to their infant settlements, by some unusual 
freshets in the Alleghany river. Nearly all their fences were swept 
away ; but instead of being discouraged by their losses, they joined to- 
gether very spiritedly, and soon repaired them ; and in the end appeared 
to have been benefitted ; for by this exertion, they gradually became 
more accustomed to labour — a thing, to them, of the greatest conse- 
quence. 

As it was believed the time had now come when it would be right 
to take some measures to instruct the Indian women in the various 
branches of housewifery, and domestic economy, and as this could not 
be done without female aid, a suitable family were sought for, and a 
man and his wife offering for that service, as well as a single female, 
who had before been at the Oneida settlement, they proceeded to Ju- 
nesassa in the early part of summer; and the natives expressed much 
satisfaction on their arrival among them. 

The arrival of the females was no less satisfactory to the Friends re- 
piding at Junesassa — for as from the first settlement to this time, in ad- 
dition to the various calls of the Indians, and their out-door labours, they 
had all their domestic and culinary services to perform, — except some 
little aid received at times, by hiring some of the Indian women. 

Although many of the Indians had constructed comfortable houses, 
very few of their women took any pains to keep them clean and in neat 
order. They manufactured none of their own clothing, except the 
mockasin's they wore on their feet They had no knowledge of mak- 
ing soap, and of course their clothes could not be very clean — and very 
little improvement in domestic affairs had as yet taken place among 
the Indian families. In proportion, however, as the men became more 
accustomed to labour, it released the women from their former drudgery; 
and having now the opportunity of getting all their grain ground, which 
before they had to pound in wooden mortars, it would afford them more 
time to turn their attention to the business of the house, and the con- 
cerns more properly allotted to females, in all civilized societies. 

To aid and assist them in accomplishing this, was the object of our fe- 
male friends; and some of the Indian girls pretty soon began to show a 
willingness to be instructed in knitting and spinning. A house of em- 



51 

ployment was built at a little distance from Friends' dwelling, and par- 
ticularly allotted to their use; but for want of the necessary materials, 
not much could be done at these useful employments the first' season. 
Our women Friends were, however, enabled to instruct many of them 
in the art of making soap, which enabled them to keep their clothes 
and persons more cleanly; and also by frequently visiting them in their 
families, had opportunities of instructing and encouraging them in habits 
more assimilated to civilized life. The Indian women, also, made fre- 
quent visits to them, and by observing their industry, economy, and 
superior mode of living, an inclination began soon to manifest itself, 
even among these uncultivated females of the wilderness, to imitate 
the more useful and rational economy of our women Friends. 

In the course of this summer, Friends had got about thirty acres of 
land cleared on their farm— their spring crops were productive, and 
they sowed fourteen or fifteen acres with winter grain. The grist and 
saw-mills were kept in operation, and found to answer a valuable pur- 
pose. 

In the spring of 1806, the Indians were much engaged in clearing 
land, splitting rails, and carrying on various improvements. One of the 
more sagacious observed to Friends, " Our Indians are getting to have 
more sense, very fast." 

They continued strongly opposed to the use of spirituous liquors, and 
seldom held a council without some animadversions on their baneful 
effects — and nothing excited more wonder among the surrounding white 
people, than to find them entirely refuse liquor when offered to them. 
The Indians said, that when the white people urged them to drink 
whiskey, they would ask for bread or provisions in its stead. 

In the course of this summer, a company of Indians from Alleghany, 
with Connediu (whom they called their prophet,) at their head, paid a 
visit to several villages of their brethren, near the Genessee river, in 
order to dissuade them from the use of strong drink, and to encourage 
them in habits of industry. 

In the Ninth month, this year, the settlement was again visited by 
three of the committee. The writer being one of the number, and 
having resided more than two years among them at the first opening of 
the settlement, was afforded a full opportunity of judging of the im- 
provements the Indians had made. A council was held with the In- 
dians at Cold Spring, which was a new town the Indians had built on the 
west side of the river, a few miles above Junesassa. Various subjects 
were discussed in this council, relative to the Indians' improvement, and 
much advice communicated relative to their moral conduct, and long 
replies again made by the Indians, which the limits prescribed for this 
narrative will not admit in detail. One thing, however, not heretofore 



52 

noticed, was earnestly pressed upon them; to live in peace and harmony 
with their wives, and not to let trifling matters part them, as was some- 
times their practice; but to consider them as companions for life: and 
also to live in peace and friendship one with another, which would 
enable them to make a greater progress in the good work Friends were 
endeavouring to promote among them. 

Our Friends at Junesassa had now got about fifty acres of land cleared, 
well enclosed, and in good order. They had built a large and commo- 
dious dwelling house and barn, which, together with the mills and im- 
provements generally, gave it the appearance of a desirable settlement. 

It was believed the Indians had built about one hundred new houses 
since the committee visited them three years before. Most of them 
were put up with hewn logs very neatly notched at the corners; many 
of them were covered with shingles, and some had pannel doors and 
glass windows. The carpenter work was chiefly done by the Indians. 
Scarcely a vestige remained of the cabins they occupied when Friends 
first settled among them. Their farms, which were of different dimen- 
sions, were enclosed with good fences, and much more detached from 
each other than formerly. A much greater proportion of corn was 
planted this season than had been known before, and generally looked 
well. Many of them had raised wheat and oats, and several had raised 
flax and buckwheat, besides potatoes and turnips in abundance. Their 
stock of cattle and horses was increased, and they had a good many 
working oxen, which they found very advantageous to them. Sheep 
were not yet introduced, owing to the danger of their being destroyed 
by wolves. 

Upon the whole, it was evident their improvements rather exceeded, 
in divers respects, those made in some new settlements of white people 
on the frontiers, in the same length of time. 

Several of the young women had this year learned to spin and knit 
a little ; but although the improvement among the females was yet 
small, it was, nevertheless evident, a change in this respect had taken 
place for the better, since our women Friends came among them. Their 
persons and apparel, as well as their houses, appeared in more neat and 
cleanly order. And as Friends approached some of their habitations, 
a pleasing mark of neatness discovered itself among some of their wo- 
men, who would immediately begin to sweep their houses, and appear 
somewhat disconcerted, if Friends entered their doors before they got 
their apartments in good order. 

After spending near a week at Alleghany, the committee proceeded 
to Cattaraugus, and had a very satisfactory interview with the Seneca 
Indians at that place. Various matters were opened to them in a writ- 
ten communication, tending to incite them to industry, and to encourage 



them in a life of sobriety. A great reform had taken place among those 
Indians in this respect. The chief warrior in his reply said, " He be- 
lieved the Great Spirit was better pleased with them when they took 
hold of the axe and the hoe and went to work, than when they were 
pursuing their former bad practices of drinking, &c." " And he was 
very glad Friends had given them their speech upon paper, that they 
would not only advise their young people themselves, but would have 
that speech to apply to, to strengthen their minds." 

Although a considerable change had taken place for the better at 
this settlement within three years past, their stock of cattle and horses 
having considerably increased, (and instead of confining them as formerly 
in small enclosures round their villages, they had, since enclosing their 
cornfields, the advantage of pasturing them on the large plains,) yet they 
appeared very far behind their brethren at Alleghany, in agricultural 
improvements, as well as in buildings and cleanliness of living. 

In the year 1807, no very important change took place among the 
Indians at Alleghany, except that divers of the young women and girls 
applied themselves to spinning in the course of the winter, under the 
direction of our women Friends, and succeeded so far as to have a piece 
of linen spun and wove into cloth, besides manufacturing a quantity of 
sewing thread with which many of the Indians were well pleased. 

Some evil disposed persons, and doubtless opposed to the advance- 
ment of the Indians in civilization, took every opportunity of creating 
suspicions in their minds, of the views of Friends, and artfully insinuated 
that Friends' saw-mill was erected to accumulate an interest out of 
them, notwithstanding that Friends had given them many thousand feet 
of boards, and also their grain at the grist-mill was then ground free of 
toll. 

In order, therefore, to settle the minds of the Indians, to counteract 
the suspicions in circulation, and as a convincing evidence of the dis- 
interested views of Friends, — believing also, that it might redound to 
the Indians' advantage, they offered to assist them in building a saw- 
mill for themselves; and three hundred dollars, in addition to a set of 
saw-mill irons, were granted for that purpose. 

This fall Cornplanter was again restored to his former station of chief; 
and from the disposition he had always manifested to the object of 
Friends, there was reason to expect his renewed influence in their 
councils would be useful. 

The family at Junesassa, experienced a great trial by the removal 
of the Friend's wife residing there, who, after about two weeks illness 
was taken from this transitory scene. She had by her prudent and oblig- 
ing conduct very much endeared herself to the natives, many of whom 
attended her funeral, and a number of them called to see the family some 



54 

days afterwards, and desired them to make their minds easy, seeing it 
was the will of the Great Spirit, and what must happen to all mankind; 
and they were come to sympathize with them, and to wipe away their 
tears that they might sorrow no more. 

In the following winter, a number of the Indian women and girls 
were engaged at spinning, and a disposition to industry and manufac- 
turing their own clothing, seemed to be gaining ground. A loom was 
provided, and several pieces of their own spinning were made into cloth. 
1808. As Friends for sometime past, had been desirous of ren- 
dering more essential service to the Indians at Cattaraugus, it was now 
believed expedient to purchase a tract of land adjoining their reserva- 
tion, and have a family stationed there, that would more effectually 
accelerate their improvement. 

Accordingly a large tract of land was agreed for, on Clear creek, which 
furnished a good seat for water-works, within four or five miles of 
the Indian town. The land being heavily timbered, the Indians were 
engaged in opening a road from their villages to it ; and considerable 
advances were made towards opening a settlement this season, super- 
intended by some of the Friends from Junesassa. 

The Indians at Alleghany got their saw-mill completed this fall so as 
to be in operation, and the Friends at Junesassa were joined by another 
family, a Friend with his wife, a single female who accompanied them, 
and several children ; the parents offering their services to spend some 
time in the instruction of the Indian nation. 

Near the close of this year, and through the succeeding winter, very 
considerable progress was made among the women and girls in learning to 
spin; several purchased wheels and commenced spinning at their own 
houses; and an aged female, of the first influence, named O-yong-go-gas, 
resided sometime with Friends, to be instructed in this employment, and 
made an unexpected progress. Her attention to assist in encouraging 
and superintending the younger women and girls, was a favourable cir- 
cumstance, and tended to promote their improvement. On hearing that 
Friends at Junesassa were about writing to the committee, she delivered 
the following address, desiring it might be sent also. 

" Brothers, attend — I wish to speak a few words to you. Since your 
women came here, I have frequently had a prospect of learning to spin; 
but as I was an ancient woman, I was afraid to make a beginning, lest 
I should not make out, and would then have to decline it, without ac- 
complishing any thing. I at length concluded to try, and have learned 
so much as to be able to spin flax and tow pretty well. 

" Brothers, I am very happy that I have the satisfaction to inform you 
a little of my progress, and also that I can now with more assurance, 
impress the necessity of this valuable improvement on the minds of our 



55 

young women, and I intend in future to recommend it as a most neces- 
sary employment. 

" For my own part, I intend to pursue it as long as my eye-sight will 
continue, and I hope yet to be able to spin wool for a blanket, if the 
Good Spirit will continue my sight. I am- very thankful for the know- 
ledge I have acquired of your women Friends. 

" Brothers, I hope this may find you all well, and I wish the Great 
Spirit may bless you." 

In the spring of 1S09, a Friend, who had spent many years among the 
natives, returned again to his former station at. Junesassa, and being 
acquainted with the weaving business, he was usefully employed in 
manufacturing into cloth the yarn which the Indian women had spun 
in the last winter, and the industry of several of them procured .them 
sufficient specimens of domestic manufactures, to stimulate them to 
further exertions. 

This spring four of the Friends resident at Junesassa proceeded to 
Cattaraugus, in order to carry on the improvements at this new station, 
and to instruct the Indians in that settlement. 

The Indians at Alleghany continued to make a satisfactory progress 
in their agricultural labours, seven or eight families sowed flax this 
spring, and other marks of improvement were observable. The settle- 
ment was visited again by a deputation from the committee, and the 
situation of the Indians fully inspected, and much advice and counsel 
were communicated to them relative to their moral conduct, as well as 
in regard to their temporal concerns. 

They were particularly warned of the iniquity of men and their 
wives separating, (a practice which was too common among them,) and 
marrying again with others; the natural consequence of which was, 
leaving their children in poverty and distress, besides being attended 
with a variety of other evils. 

The communications of Friends appeared to be well received, and in 
the replies which the Indians made, among many other things, Corn- 
planter remarked, " We are sensible that it is displeasing to the Great 
Spirit for men and their wives to separate, and I am very happy that 
you have now mentioned it, when so many of our young warriors are 
present who have the opportunity of hearing; and I hope they will at- 
tend to the good counsel you have given us." 

This deputation from the committee also visited Cattaraugus settle- 
ment, and had satisfactory interviews with those Indians, encouraging 
them to industry and sobriety, and to avail themselves of the opportu- 
nity they now had of receiving instruction from our Friends, who had 
lately come to settle near them. 

In their replies to Friends, the chief warrior observed : — " You 



still continue to speak the same language to our nation, and we believe 
your views towards us are the effects of pure friendship, and a desire 
for our welfare; and although we have fallen short in fulfilling your 
former advices, we are still encouraged to follow your counsel, and to 
pursue the path you have set before us. We hope you will continue 
to have patience towards us, as Indians cannot adopt all these habits 
that you recommend at once; but we are convinced that industry in 
cultivating our lands, is the only method by which we can receive lasting 
benefits, and we are determined to pursue it — and we hope we shall still 
continue to make a gradual advancement." 

During the winter and spring of 1810, the Indian women at Alle- 
ghany gave increasing attention to spinning. Some elderly females, who 
had acquired sufficient knowledge, and being anxious to promote this 
valuable art, took the superintendence of the young girls, and this season 
they spun sufficient to make one hundred and twenty yards, part of 
which was woollen, and manufactured into blankets. 

Some small premiums were offered to such of the men as should sow 
spring wheat, which had a stimulating effect; and sixteen or seventeen 
individuals availed themselves of the offer. 

The Indians purchased four yoke of oxen, which enabled them to do 
more ploughing — and during the course of the season many of the young 
men inclined to hire to work for other Indians, a practice which had 
not been common among them. This, however, was in part produced 
by the embargo system which was now in operation, and had an ef- 
fect to reduce the price of skins and furs, so as to render hunting not 
worth pursuing as an object of profit. 

Red Jacket, and three other chiefs of the Seneca nation, visited Phi- 
ladelphia this year, and Friends had a satisfactory interview with them. 
Red Jacket in his remarks, stated : 

" I am unable to express the thankfulness I feel for the many acts of 
kindness your society have shown to us ; particularly when that old 
gentleman, (pointing to an elderly Friend present,) and many others 
now no more, attended at our treaties. And I am happy in observing 
your disposition to pursue the same track of conduct your fathers ob- 
served towards Indians, now they are removed to the world of spirits." 

Some implements of husbandry were furnished to the Tuscarora In- 
dians, residing on the Seneca reservation near Buffalo; and the situation 
of the Delaware Indians residing on the Cattaraugus reservation claim- 
ing the sympathy of Friends, as being the remnant of a scattered tribe 
who formerly inhabited the parts along the river Delaware, and who 
for many years lived on terms of sincere friendship and reciprocal acts 
of kindness with the early settlers, while the country was then a wil- 
derness; it was believed right to make them an offer of purchasing a 



57 

tract of land in the neighbourhood of Cattaraugus, provided they would 
live on, and occupy it. Although the offer was not accepted they grate- 
fully acknowledge the kindness of Friends, and their answer on this 
occasion strongly excites our sympathy for the destiny of this once great 
and powerful nation. 

" Our nation, say they, seem as if they were scattered over the whole 
world ; and we have been desirous, for many years past, of getting to- 
gether, and have now fully concluded to leave the country of the Se- 
necas. The land you propose giving us here, if we could take it on our 
backs and set it down in the neighbourhood of our nation to the west- 
ward, we should be very thankful for ; but we don't feel satisfied to 
remain in this country, and have concluded certainly to leave it as soon 
as we can." 

Considerable progress was made this season by the Cattaraugus In- 
dians. Many of them enclosed fields separately, and had plentiful crops 
of corn; and as an incitement to this plan of farming, small premiums 
had been offered by Friends. And as a further encouragement, to ac- 
commodate the Indians, preparations were made to erect grist and saw- 
mills on the tract of land belonging to Friends, whereby they could 
have their grinding done, and be furnished with boards to enable them 
to build better houses. 

In the beginning of the year 1811, the Indian women at Alleghany 
manifested a much earlier attention to the spinning business ; and be- 
fore the time they usually began, had sufficient spun for one hundred 
and sixty yards of cloth. Near one half of their women by this time, 
had acquired some knowledge of this business; and though they had 
heretofore, for the most part, attended to it at the house of employment, 
many of them now procured wheels of their own, and attended to it at 
their own houses. Four of them within two years had spun yarn for 
about one hundred and twenty-five yards; and two others, in the last 
season, had spun and wove themselves twenty-one yards of linsey. 

The instruction of their children in school learning, had for several 
years past, been but little attended to, owing to the impediments the 
Indians themselves had thrown -in the way — but this year it was again 
revived; and a young man, qualified for that purpose, kept a school 
among them, at their request. 

The Indians at Cattaraugus were also making satisfactory improve- 
ment this season. The saw -mill was in operation this fall, and the grist 
mill in a considerable state of forwardness. 

The progress of improvement had, for many years past, exhibited an 
encouraging prospect— affording a comfortable hope, that the desirable 
object would be effected, of reclaiming at least a portion of the Indians 
from a savage and rambling life, to enjoy in a plentiful manner, and in 



58 

undisturbed security, the productions of the fruitful field. Yet it now 
seems our painful task to record some circumstances, which for a time 
much unsettled the minds of the Indians, and retarded their progress in 
civilization. 

By a company of individuals, claiming what they called the pre- 
emption right, an attempt was now made to purchase from the Seneca 
nation, all their land which they held in the state of New York, and 
under a specious show of benevolence, to give them a large tract of 
country far to the westward, where they might enjoy their native 
forest, away from the intrusions of white people. 

The peculiar situation of their land — being generally of an excellent 
quality, and an increasing white population fast settling round it — made 
it an object very desirable to this company, who, it is probable, paid a 
large sum of money for this pre-emption right. 

From the best information I have received respecting this claim, it 
appears, by the original charter, that the state of Massachusetts had 
this pre-emption right, or privilege of purchasing the Indians' land in 
this part of the territory; and to satisfy this claim, in 1787, the state of 
New York ceded to Massachusetts the right of soil — reserving to itself 
the jurisdiction thereof. The state of Massachusetts, in 1792, again sold 
their right of purchase to an individual, who, in the year 1797, at a 
treaty held at Genessee river, in the state of New York, purchased 
of the Indians a large tract of country, as has been already stated — the 
Indians " nevertheless and always reserving" out of this grant and con- 
veyance, such reservations as were therein agreed upon; " to remain 
the property of the said Seneca Indians, in as full and ample a 
manner" as if the said sale had not been made. This purchase again 
passed into otlier hands, and finally the pre-emption right to the Indians' 
reservations into the hands of the company now claiming them. 

Notwithstanding these were the only persons who had a legal right 
to purchase, it was only when the Indians were disposed to sell : and 
always to be understood, as the original owners of the soil, they had the 
right to refuse to sell, as guaranteed in the most solemn manner by the 
president of the United States. 

But notwithstanding their indubitable title to the soil, the attempt 
thus made, in an artful manner, to obtain their land, had the eifect to 
produce great commotion and disturbance among them. Nor was it to 
be doubted, but that means, too frequently practised on such occasions, 
would be resorted to. These were, to offer rewards to the chiefs or prin- 
cipal men of the nation, to gain their influence, in order to bring about 
the object they had in view. 

The Indians, however, at this time, did not accede to the proposals 
that had been held out to them, as may be seen from the following 



59 

extracts of a speech of Red Jacket to an agent, who, it seems, was em- 
ployed by the primitive holders to negotiate this business. 

" Brother, we opened our ears to the talk you lately delivered to us, 
at our council fire. In doing important business, it is best not to tell 
long stories, but to come to it in a few words — we shall therefore not 
repeat your talk, which is fresh in our minds. We have well consi- 
dered it, and the advantages and disadvantages of your offers — we re- 
quest your attention to our answer, which is not from the speaker alone, 
but from all the sachems and chiefs now round our council fire. 

" Brother, your application for the purchase of our lands is, to our 
minds, very extraordinary. It has been made in a crooked manner. 
You have not walked in the straight path, pointed out by the Great 
Council of your nation. You have no writing from our Great Father the 
president. We have looked back, and remembered how the Yorkers pur- 
chased our lands in former times. They bought them, piece after piece, for 
a little money, paid to a few men in our nation, and not to all our bre- 
thren, — until our planting and hunting grounds have become very small; 
and if we should sell these, we know not where to spread our blankets. 

" Brother, you tell us your employers have purchased of the council 
of Yorkers, a right to buy our lands. We do not understand how this 
can be. The lands do not belong to the Yorkers. They are ours, and 
were given to us by the Great Spirit. 

" Brother, you want us to travel with you, and look for other lands. 
If we should sell our lands, and move off into a distant country, towards 
the setting sun, we should be looked upon, in the country to which we 
go, as foreigners and strangers, and be despised by the red, as well as 
the white men. We should soon be surrounded by the white people, 
who would there also kill our game, come upon our lands, and try to 
get them from us. 

" Brother, we are determined not to sell our lands, but to continue 
on them. They are fruitful, and produce us corn in abundance, for the 
support of our women and children, and grass and herbs for our cattle. 

" Brother, the white people buy and sell false rights to our lands; and 
your employers, you say, have paid a great price for their right. They 
must have plenty of money to spend it buying and selling false rights to 
lands belonging to Indians. The loss of it will not hurt them, but our 
lands are of great value to us ; and we wish you to go back to your 
employers, and tell them and the Yorkers, that they have no right to 
buy and sell false rights to our lands." 

Although the inducements held out to Indians at this time were re- 
jected, yet the scheme, on the part of the applicants, was by no means 
abandoned ; and as a measure like this, so inimical to the cause in 
which Friends were engaged, could not fail of exciting considerable 



60 

alarm, it was reasonable to suppose, their influence would interpose to 
prevent the adoption of a measure so pregnant of evil to the poor In- 
dians. Accordingly, an appropriate address was presented to the Se- 
neca nation, strongly recommending them to a diligent improvement of 
their land, and to keep strong in their resolution not to part with it — 
for if they should sell and remove to a distant country, it was not likely 
Friends would go with them, or assist them, as they had heretofore done. 

The minds of the Indians appeared to be quieted for the present, and 
they were peculiarly pleased with the communications of Friends on 
this occasion. One of their chiefs observed in council — "Your words 
reached our hearts, and as though they had been handed down from 
the Great Spirit above, they have satisfied our minds." 

The spring of 1812, commenced with very encouraging prospects of 
improvement at both the settlements. The women were engaged in 
their spinning business, and the men in their agricultural pursuits, 
which relieved the women of much of their former hardships and 
burthens in procuring a livelihood. The measures adopted for their 
improvement had now been in operation at the Alleghany settlement 
for fourteen years, and the advantages resulting therefrom were 
more sensibly felt, and clearly distinguished by the Indians than at 
any former period. The progress of the Indians at Cattaraugus, 
considering the infant state of the establishment of Friends there, af- 
forded the most sanguine prospect, that, by a steady perseverence, in 
the course of a few years more, a very important change would be ef- 
fected in their situation and manner of life. But a reverse of circum- 
stances, in the course of events, again took place, which it seems proper 
now to mention. 

It was in the Sixth month, this year, that war was proclaimed by the 
United States against Great Britain, and her dependencies. This 
circumstance created very considerable alarm amongst the Indians, 
and to use their own expressions, " seemed to turn the world upside 
down." 

Their situation was peculiarly trying. War was a circumstance re- 
plete with many evils, which would inevitably involve them in serious 
difficulties. Their money, for which they had sold their land in 1797, was 
in the handsW the government. Their remaining lands were nearly all 
within the boundaries of the state of New York, and lying near to the 
British lines, which it was probable would become the seat of war, and 
therefore they would be liable to be much harassed by either party, even 
should they remain neutral. In the next place, there were several 
tribes of their confederates of the Six Nations, whom they had always 
considered as brethren, who resided within the British dominions, and 
called upon to fight their battles; and it was probable they would be 



61 

called upon by the United States to assist in the contest, and thus they 
would be reduced to the sad dilemma, of either being considered, in 
case of a refusal, as enemies to the United States, or otherwise be under 
the necessity of raising the hatchet against their own flesh and blood, 
who had not given the slightest cause of offence or provocation. 

Nor were these all the evils that seemed to threaten their repose. 
They were generally represented, in war, as a ferocious, unrelenting 
people; and hence it was natural to conclude, that jealousies would 
exist among their surrounding white neighbours, and prejudices be ex- 
cited, which it would be difficult to remove. 

Their fears were not groundless in this respect ; for soon after war 
was proclaimed, many of the surrounding inhabitants became very un- 
easy, and divers left their settlements, and removed to places more re- 
mote from the natives. This circumstance caused some alarm among 
the Indians. They apprehended that their sincerity and friendly dis- 
positions were suspected; in consequence whereof, a council was held 
between them and their white neighbours, to endeavour to eradicate 
the fears and jealousies which existed between them. The result of 
this was, that the Indians promised to take no part in the war, and the 
whites agreed not to molest them in their peaceable possessions. 

This conclusion, however, did not stand long, on the part of the In- 
dians. They were called upon by the United States to engage in the 
contest, and to take up arms against their brethren in Canada, who 
were, no doubt, excited to this unnatural war, by the British govern- 
ment. Some of the young warriors, who had never before seen the 
dreadful effects of such a conflict, were anxious to try their valour, and 
gain themselves a name ; while many of their elderly people, who re- 
tained some knowledge of former wars, were more disposed to remain 
quiet at home. But as it is not the design of this work to give a history 
of the war, in all its bearings on the Indians, it is sufficient to say, that 
during the period the war lasted, they were at times engaged therein 
by parties; and in proportion to the part they acted on this occasion, 
their advancement in civilization was impeded. 

In the autumn of this year, two of the committee visited the settle- 
ments at Junesassa and Cattaraugus, by whom a suitable address was 
sent to the Indians. But they found them in a very unsettled situation, 
on account of the war; and said " they could not, at present, attend to 
their improvements — for, look which way they would, they saw no- 
thing but war." 

As the situation of the Friends stationed among the Indians was also 
trying at this period, they were left at liberty either to leave them, and 
return home, or to remain, as they felt best satisfied to do. 

In the year 1813, although frequent alarms continued to pervade the 



62 

Indians' borders, our Friends did not apprehend it sufficient cause to 
abandon their residence, or to relax their endeavours to establish the 
Indians in a more permanent advantage from the soil. The Indians, 
too, appeared to have a special confidence in Friends, and often con- 
sulted them on account of their own safety, stating " that if Friends 
removed from them, they would become uneasy, and flee also." 

Although some of the Indians attended to their business, yet the con- 
tinual alarms, and frequent calls on them to assist in the invasion of 
Canada, very much diverted their attention from their domestic con- 
cerns ; and their war excursions had a demoralizing effect, by exposing 
them again to the use of intoxicating liquors, which gained an ascen- 
dency over some. 

Towards the close of this season, at the time Buffalo was attacked 
and burned by the British, the Indians became exceedingly agitated. 
Those of Cattaraugus, lying more contiguous to the scene of action, 
moved a great part of their property to the south side of the river, in 
order to flee in case of an attack. The consternation that prevailed 
among the inhabitants generally, in that country, had a tendency to 
increase their fears; and probably a consciousness of their having taken 
up arms against their brethren in Canada, naturally created appre- 
hensions, that, if their enemies proved victorious they would have to 
suffer a retaliation. 

The alarm, however, subsided, as there was no attack made on them, 
and they were permitted to remain quiet the succeeding winter, and 
attend somewhat to their necessary concerns. 

In the fall of 1814, the settlements were visited again by four of the 
committee. They arrived at Cattaraugus the thirteenth of the Ninth 
month, and had a council on the fifteenth with the Indians. Many of 
them were then absent, being engaged in the war, and more were about 
going. But when they heard of Friends' arrival, they concluded to stay 
at home. 

They stated the many difficulties which they laboured under, on ac- 
count of the war, and the great obstruction it was to their improve- 
ment. They said the officers often called on them to go to war, and if 
they staid at home, they were not satisfied — and they did not know 
whether they were safe or not. 

" Brothers, said they, the war has continued for three summers past. 
We have still had time to provide a little for our families ; but this year 
we scarcely get home, before another express comes for us. We have 
been in hopes these troubles would subside ; but from the present com- 
motions, and noise of the great guns on the lines, we have entertained 
doubts how or when it will end." 

At the conclusion of the council, they remarked the great satisfaction 






63 

they felt, that the Friends who lived beside them had remained so 
steady with them through their difficulties, that although the great 
guns had roared so loud as to shake the ground whereon they stood, 
yet they remained quiet; which convinced them that they must be un- 
der the protection of the Great Spirit. 

Notwithstanding the various interruptions the Indians had met with 
on account of the war, they had made very considerable advances 
in agricultural improvements, at this settlement. The author, being 
one of the deputation who now visited them, had an opportunity of ob- 
serving the great contrast in their situation, since Friends came to settle 
among them. They had enclosed with good fences, and cultivated 
several hundred acres of good land, within three or four years past ; a 
great proportion of which was planted with corn and potatoes, or sowed 
with oats, &c. and generally looked well. Many families had raised 
wheat, and were preparing to sow more in the fall. Several had raised 
flax, and about twenty-five of their women had learned to spin. Their 
women, also, appeared more neat and cleanly, in their dress and 
houses. But three or four families remained in their old village, having 
found it much to their advantage to settle more detached from each 
other. They were now scattered along, on the rich bottoms, for several 
miles. Considerable improvement had also taken place in the mode of 
building. Many had good houses, and some had barns, and scarcely any 
of the old cabins were seen standing. The Indians had procured a num- 
ber of wagons and carts, with other farming utensils, as well as several 
yoke of oxen. Their stock of cattle, in general, was much increased ; 
and the Indians said, in council, there were but one or two families but 
had cows or horses. 

The committee also visited the settlement at Alleghany, and held a 
general council with the Indians at Cold Spring, where they were en- 
couraged to perseverance in the path they had for many years been 
pointing out to the Indians, and in which good way they had made con- 
siderable progress. But it was observed, that they were deficient in 
several respects, and had not made so much improvement as was de- 
sirable for the opportunity they had had. In their replies, they acknow- 
ledged the very great benefit they had received in time past, from the 
advice and instruction of Friends, but said they had made less improve- 
ment since the war commenced ; that they were frequently called upon 
by the officers to go to war, and this kept them uneasy, so that they 
could not attend to their business. Some of their people had, also, 
during the war, got into habits of intemperance — and this tended to 
retard their advancement in the modes of civilized life. 

The old chief, Cornplanter, not having attended this council, several 
of the company paid him a visit at his own house, about eleven miles 



G4 

distant from Junesassa. About five or six families remained with the 
old chief, at his settlement, mostly his connexions. The old town of 
Jenuchshadaga, where all the first councils between Friends and the 
Indians wore held, was entirely deserted, and so overgrown with young 
timber, as almost to conceal the place where it stood. This strange 
mutation of things at this place, was principally owing to the land being 
Corn planter's private property, and to the disposition of the other In- 
dians to move higher up the river, and settle on land belonging to the 
nation, where they would have a greater security for the improvements 
they should make. 

Cornplanter expressed his great satisfaction at once more seeing his 
friends in his own house, and that he was still preserved alive to talk 
with them. He acknowledged the advice of Friends had always been 
good, and that in consequence of many of the Indians adhering to it, 
their situation had been much improved, but that in consequence of the 
miseries of war, some of his people had again become intemperate. 

The too common practice of men and their wives parting, having 
been animadverted upon at the late council, the old chief observed, that 
he also reprobated it, as being attended with many evil effects; and 
that he had often seen children, who had been thus neglected, when 
young, in consequence of their parents' separation, reflect on their pa- 
rents, when they got old, and charge them with neglect of duty; it 
being generally the practice where separations take place, for the mo- 
ther to take charge of the children, and provide for them as well as she 
can. 

" The liquor, said he, has been introduced among us by white peo- 
ple; but this evil practice has grown up among ourselves. Our young 
people arc too fond of diversions, and not serious enough, in forming 
connexions. I have often advised them to more sobriety and regular 
conduct, and spent much of my time in serving the nation." 

The Indians, generally, on the Alleghany river, continued to increase 
their stock of cattle, horses, and swine, quite equal to their means of 
supporting them through the winter; although in other respects, since 
the commencement of the war, they had made but little progress in 
agriculture. Many of the women, however, had given considerable 
attention to spinning — especially in the winter season. They appeared 
more cleanly in their persons and houses than they formerly did ; and 
their manners, and general deportment, appeared to be rising from 
that degraded state in which they had formerly lived, and becoming 
more assimilated to the modes and practices of white people. 

The spring of 1815, was ushered in with the welcome and consoling 
news of peace, to the poor Indians; an accommodation having taken 
place between the United States and Great Britain in the preceding 



65 

winter. Not only could the Seneca nation participate in the blessings 
of peace, by having their prospects to pursue their agricultural labours 
again brightened, but many of the surrounding tribes, who had been 
more extensively engaged in the late contest, could now lay down the 
hatchet, which had often been stained with the blood of their enemies. 

But although peace had now taken place, and hostilities ceased be- 
tween the contending parties, it was doubtful whether the Seneca na- 
tion would be conciliated, and immediately restored to that mutual 
friendship, which previous to the war had subsisted between them and 
their confederate tribes in Canada, who had, under the banner of Great 
Britain, taken up arms against the United States. It was, therefore, 
believed expedient by the committee at this critical juncture to send 
them a suitable address on the occasion, from which the following is 
extracted. 

" Brothers, since it has pleased the Great Spirit to restore to our 
country the blessing of peace, we have felt our minds concerned to ad- 
dress you, in order to encourage you to pursue the path we have long 
been pointing out to you; and likewise to call your attention to the great 
advantages resulting from living in peace with all men. 

" Brothers, we are sensible that there are two spirits at work in the 
minds of men. The one produces in us a disposition of love and good 
will towards all men, and is a comforter for all good actions. The other 
excites evil thoughts and desires, and influences to bad actions, such as 
lying, swearing, drunkenness, pride, envy, hatred, gaming, and many 
other evils, which, if given way to, often create war between nations. 
So we believe it is in our power to resist the evil spirit, and conquer 
all the evil propensities of our nature, by obeying the Good Spirit, 
and by daily watching, and prayer to him. If we so conduct, he will 
deliver us from evil. 

" Brothers, our fathers, and we their children, who profess the same 
principles by which they were guided, have always believed that wars 
and fightings are displeasing to the Great Spirit, who is all love, and 
who made of one blood all nations of men, that they should live in peace 
and love with each other. For this cause, he hath placed his law in 
our hearts, and in the hearts of all men, teaching, not only to love one 
another, but also to forgive injuries, and even to love and do good to 
our enemies. 

" Brothers, where people live in this disposition, and trust in the 
Great Spirit for protection, it has a powerful effect in producing the 
same disposition in the minds of those who wish to do them an injury; 
and instead of hatred, it will produce in their minds love and good will. 
For you must, be sensible, brothers, that when a man is angry with 
another, and uses many threatening expressions, if the other returns 




66 

mild answers, and endeavours to pacify him by acts of kindness and 
good will, it is more likely to restore the angry man to a sober and right 
state of mind, than if he were to quarrel and fight with him — and this 
would be overcoming evil with good, which is always pleasing to the 
Great Spirit. 

" Brothers, we are sensible that the late war must have brought you 
into great difficulty and distress — and we are thankful for the return 
of peace. We hope the Great Spirit will preserve you from again feel- 
ing the miseries of war. We also wish you to be reanimated, to pursue 
your farming, and the improvement of your land, under the instruction 
of our friends who reside among you, as this is the only sure method 
we can recommend to you to obtain a comfortable living for yourselves 
and families; and the most likely means, as you are industrious and 
become sensible of the value of your property, of securing you in the 
permanent possession of your land. 

" Brothers, our desires continue as strong at the present day, as ever 
they were, to promote your happiness in this life, and in that which is 
to come. But this happy state we know can only be attained, by hav- 
ing our minds drawn to the Great Spirit, by imploring his protection, 
and by beseeching him that he would preserve us in love towards all 
mankind. If we are sincere in our desires for his assistance, and atten- 
tive to the voice of his spirit in our hearts, we shall have reason to hope 
for his blessing upon our labours, which is our desire for ourselves, for 
our Indian brethren, and for all men." 

The Indians were also strongly reminded in this address, of the dan- 
gerous tendency of introducing strong liquor again into their villages, 
as the late war had exposed them to the use of it more than they had 
been for many years previous — and if they now become so unwise as 
to fall again in love with it, it would prove their ruin. 

This communication had a stimulating effect upon the Indians at both 
the settlements. Those of Alleghany sent a written address to the com- 
mittee, signed by six of their chiefs, in which they expressed in a high 
degree, their sense of gratitude for the continued care of the society of 
Friends ^over them, and the great advantages they had received from 
their instruction. They also renewed their request that they might be 
furnished with a schoolmaster, as but little attention had been given to 
their improvement in school learning for some time past, owing to 
the general disinclination of the Indians to have their children thus in- 
structed. 

At the request of the Indians, also, in'thc summer of 1816, four lads, 
two from Buffalo, and two from Alleghany, were brought into Chester 
county, within forty miles of Philadelphia, and placed with suitable 



G7 

persons under the care of the committee, to be instructed in school 
learning, and some of the mechanic arts. 

In the Eighth month this year, a Friend who had formerly devoted 
many years to the instruction of the natives, proceeded again with his 
wife to the Alleghany settlement, accompanied by a young man in the 
capacity of a schoolmaster ; and the family who had resided there for 
some years past returned from thence. The school was again opened 
at Cold Spring town, in the Tenth month, where about twenty different 
scholars attended, in an irregular manner, owing, in part, to the scarcity 
of provisions. This scarcity of food was occasioned by unusually early 
frost, which destroyed more than half their corn, and likewise many 
other vegetables. This calamity was felt through all that part of the 
country bordering on the lakes. 

Although the Indians had had the fairest prospect of a plentiful sup- 
ply, yet, from the foregoing circumstance, many of them were com- 
pelled to resort to their former source of dependence, and with their 
families, retire to the woods and hunting encampments, where they 
remained a great part of the winter. 

The Indians at Cattaraugus were conspicuous sufferers by this cala- 
mity; many of them having their crops of corn entirely cut off, while 
they had as yet scarcely recruited from their sufferings during the 
late war. Friends duly considered their distressed situation, and 
granted five hundred dollars to be applied in supplying them with pro- 
visions, and three hundred more to be administered to the necessities 
of those on the Alleghany reservation. These donations were gratefully 
received by the Indians, and were peculiarly useful in enabling them, 
the following spring, more generally to attend to their agricultural pur- 
suits, without being compelled from necessity to retire to their hunting 
grounds. It was said five hundred and twelve individuals at Alleghany, 
and three hundred and ninety at Cattaraugus, partook of this timely 
donation of Friends. 

In the spring of 1817, the fears of the committee were strongly ex- 
cited for the safety of the Indians, from the various concurring accounts, 
that plans were agpin devising to induce a removal of many of them in 
the state of New York, from their present seat, to one very remote 
among the western tribes. A measure of this kind would not only tend 
to unsettle the Indians in their agricultural pursuits, but if carried into 
effect, would entirely frustrate the plan of their civilization, and render 
of little avail the labours of Friends for twenty years past, and the ex- 
penditure of more than forty thousand dollars in promoting their ad- 
vancement toward a civilized state. 

The committee, therefore, being fully impressed with the great loss 
the Indians would inevitably sustain by a removal to a distant clime, 



communicated their views by a written address : and with a view of 
setting them in a more permanent possession of the soil, recommended 
a division of their land into lots, suitable to accommodate each family, 
to be held under such regulations, that it might descend from parent 
to children, and other near connexions ; and under such restrictions as 
would debar individuals from selling, leasing, or transferring it, in any 
way, to white people. 

This measure being of an important character in the disposition of 
Indian affairs, it was believed expedient, by the committee, to present 
a memorial to the President of the United States, in their behalf, by 
which he was fully made acquainted with the plan proposed to the In- 
dians for a division of their land ; and being visited, also, by a deputa- 
tion from the committee, and furnished with various documents, it 
opened the way for a free communication of sentiment on the subject, 
and the president gave assurance of attentively perusing and duly con- 
sidering the documents and memorial. 

In the Ninth month this year, the settlements of Tunesassa and Cat- 
taraugus were again visited by four of the committee, who spent several 
weeks among the Indians, in attending to the various services of their 
appointment. They inspected, particularly, the state of improvement 
at both the settlements, and also had divers interviews with the Indians 
in council, at both places. 

With respect to the improvements at Cattaraugus, the author being 
one of the deputation now visiting them, had a fair opportunity of judg- 
ing of the advances they had made in three years past. Their settle- 
ments at this place were now extended about ten miles in length — and 
they had fenced in many fields and laid out their farms much more de- 
tached from each other — and were gradually advancing in agriculture. 
It was supposed they had more than two hundred acres of corn grow- 
ing, (and it generally looked well,) besides one hundred acres more 
under cultivation; spring wheat, oats, potatoes, and a great variety of 
garden vegetables. Their stock of cattle and horses was much increas- 
ed, and divers of them had enclosed lots of grass on which they gathered 
hay for winter. Many of the women had made considerable progress 
in spinning, so as, in the course of the last year, to make about one 
hundred and seventy yards of cloth. 

The Alleghany settlement was said to consist of about seventy fami- 
lies, all of whom, except four, had horned cattle, amounting in the whole 
to upwards of four hundred. 

They had more horses than was any advantage to them. Their corn, 
oats* and buckwheat, were in a prosperous condition, and promised to 
afford them a plentiful supply. And it was pleasing to find, that they 
had generally refrained from the use of spirituous liquors. The women, 



G9 

also, continued their attention to spinning and manufacturing their 
clothing. 

The school taught by the Friend at this place was also in a more 
prosperous condition than had hitherto been evidenced among those 
Indians. Nearly twenty lads attended, divers of whom could write and 
read the English language, and had otherwise made satisfactory pro- 
gress in learning. The cleanliness of their persons, their order in the 
school, and general deportment, appeared to be encouraging. 

A prominent object in this visit was, to encourage the Indians to make 
the experiment of dividing their land into lots, and holding it as private 
property, under certain restrictions. This was suggested to them, in 
separate councils with the different tribes, as the most eligible plan by 
which they could continue to possess the good land which they and their 
fathers had so long enjoyed, and which of late years they had improved 
so much, that " this land, with its valuable improvements, might pass 
to their children, and be inherited by them as long as the Alleghany 
and Cattaraugus rivers should continue to run, and the grass and corn 
to grow." 

The Indians in their several settlements, took this matter under seri- 
ous consideration; and, in consequence of an arrangement made for the 
purpose, Friends met the principal chiefs, and many others of the 
Seneca nation, in a general council at Cattaraugus, among whom was 
the noted chief, Red Jacket, and several others from Buffalo. In this 
general council, the subject of dividing their land into lots, was again 
proposed to the Indians, as the most eligible means of accelerating their 
civilization, and securing them more permanently in the possession of 
the remnant of the land they yet occupied ; and that these lots should 
be of adequate dimensions to accommodate each family with a farm, 
and be held under such restrictions, that they could not be alienated, 
or leased to any other than their own people, but in such manner as to 
secure to the individuals respectively, the land, with the improvements 
thereon, which should be appropriated to each. It was believed the 
adoption of this measure would prove an additional stimulus to their 
industry and care, in the prospect it presented, of the benefits which 
might result from their agricultural labours descending to, and being 
enjoyed by, their children, and posterity more remote. This important 
subject occupied the deliberate attention of the Indians for several days. 
The result was, a resolution that an experiment should be made on the 
Alleghany reservation by the Indians residing thereon, many of whom 
had for a considerable lime been desirous of possessing their property 
more distinct from each other than had heretofore been the case. 

On the morning Friends were about to proceed on their way home- 
wards, a number of the chiefs called to see them, and expressed their 



7U 

great satisfaction with the conclusions that had resulted at the late council. 
One of them named Blue-eyes, said, " Brothers, we want you to continue 
your endeavours to strengthen us, that we may not become a lost peo- 
ple, but that by persevering in the right path, we may experience 
preservation. We believe it is owing to the favourable disposition of 
the United States, that the Six Nations yet exist. And we are of the 
opinion, from the representations that have been made, that we owe 
much to you — and we trust to an overruling providence, who has thus 
favoured us, that we may yet experience preservation." 

Notwithstanding the repeated refusals of the Indians to dispose of 
any more of their land, renewed a pplications were made by those hold- 
ing the pre-emplion right in the beginning of the year 1818; and at a 
general council, held at Buffalo, about this time, they again determined 
not to sell ; and with a view of making the President of the United 
States more particularly acquainted with their situation, and with the 
difficulties to which they were subjected, by these repeated applica- 
tions for land, they sent forward a talk for that purpose, signed by twenty- 
one chiefs of the Seneca, Caynga, and Onondago tribes, which was 
published in the Niagara Patriot, and from which, for its simple, natural, 
impassioned, and pathetic eloquence, we shall present to the reader 
a few extracts. 

" Father, from the fatherly care the presidents of the United States 
have exercised towards their red children, we speak to our father in 
confidence, believing he will not turn away his ears from his red chil- 
dren. We are alarmed lest we lose our seats. Those men who say they 
have a right to purchase our lands, have been distressing us for a num- 
ber of years with their plans to possess our lands — offering us in ex- 
change lands to the westward. We declare to you, we desire you to 
publish to all our white brothers, that it is our fixed and determined 
purpose to live and die on our present land. It is sealed to us by the 
bones of our fathers — they obtained it by their blood. Our bones shall 
lie beside theirs — it is the heritage of the Almighty — he gave it us — 
he it is must take it from us." 

" We mean no threat by this — we know we are in the hands of our 
white brethren — they can destroy us with ease — but they need not 
think to persuade us to part with our lands — as free men we claim the 
right to choose between being killed outright, or a lingering execution, 
by being driven a thousand miles into the wilderness. 

" Where, father, where would our white brothers have us to go? The 
Indian claim to land is put out for more than a thousand miles to the 
west — except little spots for particular nations. 

" We have confidence in you. You cannot see your red children, 



71 

with their little ones, driven off by stealth and fraud — leaving the 
sepulchres of their fathers, their farms, their farming tools, and their 
cattle, and dying by families on the road, through hardships and priva- 
tion — exchanging all their advances in civilization and its comforts, for 
the hardships of the chase — without house or friend. 

" Father, we have confidence in you, that if you see any device form- 
ed against us, you will frustrate it, and succour your red children. We 
have deceived no man — we have wronged no man — our language has 
been one — we choose not to part with our land. If we have been 
needlessly alarmed, you will pity our ignorance, and forgive our childish 
fears. 

" We trust that you will pardon the multitude of our words. Let 
none deceive you in saying that this is the voice of a few individuals, 
and not the voice of the Six Nations. It is the voice of the Six Nations 
in the state of New York, The chiefs of Buffalo, Cattaraugus, Genessee, 
and Onondago, are now in council. We have the message of Oneida 
and Alleghany with us, desiring we should speak to our father the pre- 
sident — intreating him to consider and help us. Speak, father — speak 
to your children, that their minds may be at rest. Speak to our council 
fire at this place, and let us hear your own words; send them by safe 
hands. 

" May the Great Spirit preserve you many years a blessing to all 
your children." 

The Indians also sent a copy of the foregoing talk to the governor 
of New York, accompanied with a short address, from which we make 
the following extracts: 

" Father, we thank you that you feel anxious to do all you can to 
the perishing ruins of your red children. We hope, Father, you will 
make a fence strong and high around us, that wicked white men may 
not devour us at once, but let us live as long as we can. We are per- 
suaded you will do this for us, because our field is laid waste and trod- 
den down by every beast — we are feeble and cannot resist them." 

" Father, we are persuaded you will do this for the sake of our white 
brothers, lest God, who has appeared so strong in building up white 
men and pulling down Indians, should turn his hand and visit our white 
brothers for their sins, and call them to an account for all the wrongs 
they have done them, and all the wrongs they have not prevented, that 
it was in their power to prevent, to their poor red brothers, who have 
no helper. 

" Father, would you be the father of your people and make them 
good and blessed of God, let not the cries of his red children ascend 
into his ears against you." 



72 

Without further comment on these impressive communications of the 
Indians, we shall leave the reader to his own reflections, after stating, 
that whatever impressions they might have made on the rulers to whom 
they were addressed, it did not prevent the renewed and persevering 
applications of the pre-emption holders, to obtain the Indians' land, which, 
although they as often refused to sell, had the effect to keep them in a 
state of agitation and unsettlement; for although they had been repeat- 
edly told that their lands were their own, and that they could not be 
compelled to dispose of them without their consent, and that President 
Washington had fully assured them that the United States would pro- 
tect them in the remainder of their lands, which they had not legally 
conveyed away at public treaties, yet there appeared to be a degree of 
jealousy existing with some, as to the sincerity of these professions, and 
a fear lest they might, at some time, be compelled to relinquish their 
rightful possessions and be removed to another clime. 

The Indians at Alleghany, therefore, sent a message to the committee, 
in which they expressed a wish that Friends would endeavour to obtain 
for them a written instrument from the President of the United States, 
to strengthen, as they said, their title to their land, so that they might 
be easy themselves, and their children after them. And as it had been 
concluded in the last fall, to divide the Alleghany reservation into lots, 
they also wished to know whether this plan was agreeable to the Pre- 
sident. 

In consequence of this request of the Alleghany chiefs, as also with 
a view of making the executive department of government more fully 
acquainted with their situation, various documents were prepared and 
committed to the charge of four of the committee, to present to the 
secretary of war, and such other officers of government as seemed to 
be requisite. These documents were calculated to explain the views 
of Friends in the interesting and benevolent design of ameliorating the 
condition, and promoting the civilization of the Indians, and also to im- 
press the public mind with the peculiarly distressed situation of the 
aborigines of our country generally. 

A surveyor being furnished by Friends, some essay was made, in the 
course of this year, towards dividing the Alleghany reservation into lots, 
as had previously been concluded on in general council. But difficul- 
ties occurred among the Indians respecting it, which they were not at 
that time able to reconcile ; as the division lines would in many in- 
stances interfere with their present improvements ; and their local at- 
tachments having, in a considerable degree, been increased since they 
become more detached in their settlements and applied themselves to 
the pursuits of an agricultural life, the plan of division was abandoned 
for the present, 



73 

It may here be proper to state, that in their former practice of lo- 
cating the land they wished to cultivate, they never interfered with each 
other's boundaries. There was land sufficient for them all. Each family 
possessed the spot upon which they settled, without interruption from 
others ; and if they wished to relinquish it, and remove to another, they 
might sell their improvements to other Indians. It is, therefore, not 
surprising, that in effecting so radical a change from 'their former cus- 
toms, as the one contemplated, difficulties should occur — and it will 
require time for local prejudices, gradually to give way to the more en- 
lightened views of civilization, and for more correct ideas of distinct 
property to be realized. 

Notwithstanding the state of unsettlement, considerable improve- 
ment in divers respects, was apparent this year, especially at the Cat- 
taraugus settlement. A school for the first time was opened at that 
place, by a young man who offered for that service, and was attended 
by a number of children, with as much regularity as could reasonably 
be expected. 

In the year 1819, and for some time previous, the Indians on the 
Alleghany river had got much in the practice of cutting and rafting 
pine timber down the river, and selling to white people, which was 
rather an injury to them than otherwise, as it opened an intercourse 
with some of the most profligate of the whites, and exposed them more 
to the use of intoxicating liquors than when at home, engaged in their 
agricultural labours. It also had a tendency to frustrate the plan of 
dividing their land into lots, as they now had liberty to range at large 
in the woods and get timber where they pleased, while the land re- 
mained as common stock to the nation. 

In the spring of this year, an Indian, who was a lad when Friends 
first settled amongst them, and who had since been instructed in the 
blacksmith business, dictated a letter to the author, in reply to one sent 
to him sometime before, from which, to show his own views of the im- 
provement he had made, we make the following extracts. 

" I received thy letter of the eighteenth of last month, much to my 

satisfaction. I was glad to hear that my old friend W was well, 

and thou may inform him that I have usual health also. I well remem- 
ber the counsel of my friends, the Quakers. I see they want to do me 
good — I feel strong about it. They told me to work at my trade, and to 
plough, and sow, and raise grain and grass. All this is very good ad- 
vice. I now have plenty of corn, and some other grain, and hay. I 
have worked at my trade so as to earn ninety dollars, and received my 
pay from our agent. Besides this, about thirty dollars for other smith- 
ing, done last year. I feel glad the Quakers live so near me. I do their 
10 



74 

smithing. They have ploughed several days for me. I have good corn 
in the land they ploughed, and some good wheat, potatoes, and other 
things, so that I have plenty. All this comes from my friends the 
Quakers' advice. 

" Thee mentions about running out our land into lots, and that an 
evil bird has sung us a bad song. We are in hopes that the good 
bird will begin to sing, and in hopes that by next spring, his song 
will be for our good. I want he should sing a good song for us. I my- 
self cannot say much, but I want the land divided into lots. Some say 
they do not want it, and are putting it by. I am glad thee has wrote thy 
mind on paper to me on this subject, and sent' it here — I think I can 
see more light by it. I wish thee to make thy mind easy. I will do 
what I can, and speak what I know is for our good. I am in hopes to 

see my friend H here, whom I remember when I was a boy. I 

intend to keep thy letter by me, that I may see what it says in time to 
come, that I may not forget thy advice. Farewell." 

Notwithstanding the repeated assurances, from time to time, given 
to the Indians, that Friends were acting towards them from disinter- 
ested motives, and would never bring any charge against them, yet 
there were still individuals among them, probably instigated by the 
enemies of Friends among white people, who continued to excite 
jealousies and surmises, that Friends would at some future day, bring a 
charge against them. In order, therefore, to make their minds entirely 
easy on this subject, a writing was drawn up on parchment, containing 
the same assurances heretofore given, that Friends never would bring 
any charge against them for their services. This, as also a communica- 
tion obtained from the President of the United States, respecting the 
division of their land, and sanctioning the plan of Friends, was forward- 
ed, to them, and seemed for the present to have a conciliating effect. 

During this summer, an increasing improvement was manifested by 
several of the Indians, clearing themselves new farms, distinct from 
their former fields, and preparing to put in their crops, which they ac- 
complished in due season. 

In the summer of 1820, circumstances again requiring a visit from 
the committee to the Indian settlements, two other Friends and the 
writer, were deputed for that service. They proceeded to Tunesassa 
in the Ninth month; and after inspecting into the situation of the In- 
dians, and their state of improvement, they found, that, although many 
had made considerable advances in agriculture and the modes of civil- 
ized life, yet there were individuals who probably being instigated by 
designing white men, or from a perverse disposition in themselves, had 
become inimical to their abandoning their former habits, and pursuing 



75 

the mode of life in which Friends had for many years been endeavour- 
ing to instruct them. This created jealousy and party spirit in some 
degree among them at this period. 

To meet these circumstances, and to endeavour to reconcile the minds 
of the Indians, a council was called, which their chiefs generally, and 
many others of their people, attended, to the number of about seventy. 

The following is extracted from the address of Friends, delivered to 
them on this occasion. 

" Brothers, by the permission of the Great and Good Spirit who made 
the world, and is acquainted with all the actions of men, we are per- 
mitted to meet in council, and we desire that he may help us to come 
to right conclusions. 

" Brothers, it is now a long time since the Seneca nation became 
sensible that if they continued to exist as a people, they must change 
their mode of living from the hunter state, and engage in agricultural 
pursuits. They were very desirous that their brothers, the Quakers, 
would assist them. They believed it pleasing to the Great Spirit, that 
men should assist and help each other, and that Friends came amongst 
them for that purpose. 

" Brothers, when our Friends first came among you, you had no good 
houses — very few cattle — very little land cultivated — your numbers 
were decreasing, and it appears certain to us, and to yourselves, that 
unless a change were made, you would fast dwindle away, and the 
Seneca nation become as it were dead. 

" Brothers, some of our friends have been engaged in instructing you 
for more than twenty years. You have been taught to build more com- 
fortable houses — you have enclosed and cultivated fields — you have 
much increased your stock of cattle, and other useful animals. Some 
of your men have been instructed in useful trades. Many of your wo- 
men have learned to spin, and some of your children have been taught 
to read and write. 

" Brothers, we love you, and therefore we feel bound to speak plainly 
to you. We hope our words may sink deep into your minds. It is the 
voice of your old and true friends, who have never deceived you. You 
must endeavour to improve in the habits of civilized life, until you 
arrive at the state of some of the best of the white people, or you will 
gradually go back until you lose what you have gained — your friends 
with mournful hearts will give you up — your lands will go from you — 
and the very name of the Seneca nation, like many that have gone be- 
fore you, will only be known in history. 

" Brothers, a man in the habit of taking strong drink to excess sets a 
bad example to his neighbours, and his family, and brings his poor wife 



7G 

and innocent children to poverty and distress. This conduct is offensive 
to the Great Spirit ; and unless he changes, he becomes one of the most 
wretched of men. We wish you, therefore, to endeavour to reclaim 
such of your people as iiave fallen into this evil practice, and to warn 
those who may be in danger of contracting the habit. 

" Brothers, we desire to stimulate you to increased industry. The 
industrious man is always the most comfortable. Labour is good for 
health; it makes the mind cheerful; and by steadily attending to business, 
we have the satisfaction to see every thing improving around us. What 
appeared hard, by perseverance becomes easy. 

"Brothers, the greatest kindness a man can do to his children, is to 
begin early, to learn them to be industrious, and to engage them in 
business suitable to their years. The boys ought to help their fathers 
in the fields— the mothers and daughters to be engaged in spinning — 
in making clothes, in cooking victuals, and in all the business that is 
suitable to their sex — their houses, their beds, their clothes, and every 
thing about them, should be kept clean and in good order. 

" Brothers, it is consistent with the will of the Great Spirit, that men 
and women should be connected in marriage. . It is an engagement of 
great importance, and we should not enter into it, until we are of suf- 
ficient age to think and judge for ourselves ; and when marriage is con- 
tracted, the parties are bound to help and love each other — to care 
for, and instruct their children — and while families live in love and 
harmony together, it is very comfortable and very good; — but when 
division gets in, and differing, it is the work of the evil spirit — and if man 
and wife separate and marry others, it produces confusion, and must be 
displeasing in the Divine sight, and no people can prosper and grow 
strong who are in such practices. 

" Brothers, it is the duty of parents to have their children educated. 
The Great Spirit has given us minds capable of improvement, and 
by education children become more capable of learning the various 
trades, which will add to their comfort and happiness ; and we believe 
it is right that the girls should be taught as well as the boys. 

" Brothers, we have been desirous that the lands belonging to you 
might remain firm in your hands, that your children and children's 
children might possess them. For this end, we advised you to divide to 
every family a farm, so that they might say, " this is mine," and im- 
prove it for their own benefit. And although changes are at first sub- 
ject to some difficulties, yet we believe those difficulties may be over- 
come. 

" Brothers, on this subject you wished to have the mind of your 
father, the President of the United States, to strengthen you in the 
conclusion you had come to in general council, to divide the Alleghany 



77 

reservation. You requested your friends in Philadelphia to go to the 
President, and obtain his opinion. One of us, who are now present, with 
some others, took a journey to Washington, for the purpose of comply- 
ing with your request, and we found the President fully impressed with 
the necessity of such a measure, and he gave us a paper, in strong 
words, sealed with the great seal of the United States, and directed to 
the Alleghany chiefs, advising and urging that you might carry the 
business into effect, which paper was sent to you. 

" Brothers, we hope you will keep your minds strong on this subject, 
for we shall hardly know how to go again to the President, and make 
requests on your behalf, if, when they are granted, they are not pro- 
ceeded in. 

" Brothers, our talk has been long. Circumstances seemed to require 
it; we hope you will consider it well. We love and desire the pros- 
perity of you all ; and although you may differ in opinion in some mat- 
ters, yet we desire that the Good Spirit may unite your minds in love, 
and that you may all join in endeavours to promote education and im- 
provement." 

The Indians took these matters into serious consideration, and pro- 
mised to make a reply the day following — and when they assembled 
for that purpose, it was evident they were divided into two parties, and 
divers of them had become opposed to their children's being instructed 
in school learning, giving this as a reason, " that they were more liable 
to be corrupted by bad white people." 

Much the greater part, however, continued to manifest an attach- 
ment to Friends, and, in their replies, gave hearty assurances of attend- 
ing to their advice. They appeared to be fully sensible that remaining 
on their land, and pursuing the plan that' Friends had pointed out to 
them, were the only means by which they could continue to be a na- 
tion. The chief sachem, named Blue- Eyes, in the course of his speech, 
remarked, " If we go from here we are a lost people. Look to the east, 
west, north, or south ; all is filled up, and there is no place for us." 

On the subject of dividing their land, they appeared to be discour- 
aged, owing to their divided state, and the opposition met with from 
some individuals, who no doubt were influenced by interested and de- 
signing men; as this great object would be the most likely means of 
settling the Indians in a permanent possession of the soil, and thereby 
frustrate the avaricious designs of speculators. The secret insinuations 
of this class of the white people added much to the difficulties of Friends 
in pursuing their plans of civilization ; nor was it to be wondered at, 
that individuals, among a people who had long been a prey to design- 



78 

ing white men, should become alienated from Friends, and cease to 
follow their counsel. 

At the close of this council, they were, however, reminded of the 
dangers to which they were exposing themselves, and the advantages 
that might be taken by their enemies, of their divided state, and espe- 
cially by those who wished to obtain their lands. They were told that, 
" we still considered them as brethren — that we were not divided in 
our good wishes for them — that we had always desired, and continued 
to desire, the welfare of all Indians, and that, on bidding them farewell, 
on the present occasion, we still hoped the Great Spirit might incline 
their minds to unite together in love as brethren, and that they would 
yet join in promoting the education of their children, and in advancing 
in all the improvements that were necessary for the comfort and real 
benefit of man." 

From Alleghany the committee proceeded to the Cattaraugus settle- 
ment, and spent some time in viewing the improvements of the Indians 
at that place. They found that considerable progress had been made 
within three years past, in building houses, and enclosing more land on 
the rich flats, which was cultivated with corn, oats, potatoes, turnips, 
and other vegetables of various kinds, affording a prospect of a plentiful 
supply of provisions. 

A council was held with the Indians, and after an introductory speech 
from the chief warrior, which is customary on all such occasions, the 
following address was delivered to them. 

" Brothers, having been preserved through a long journey, we are 
now, by the favour of the Great Spirit, enabled once more to meet you 
in council. 

" Brothers, in passing through your land, we are glad to see that you 
are situated on a rich and fruitful soil, where, by reasonable care and 
industry, every thing necessary for a comfortable subsistence may be 
readily obtained. 

" Brothers, it affords us satisfaction to observe the improvements you 
have already made — your well fenced fields, your corn, and other grain, 
and your cattle — and we feel, as your old and true friends, a strong 
desire that you may be stirred up to increased industry. 

" Brothers, by perseverance and daily attention to business, the in- 
dustrious man prospers, and is able to make a comfortable provision for 
his family ; and it is not only our duty to labour for their support, but 
to train our children to assist in all the business they are capable of — 
to begin with them young> and thus, while they are useful to their pa- 
rents, it adds greatly to their own real comfort. 

" Brothers, by the united exertions of a family, much may be done. 



79 

The house may be made more comfortable. Out houses may be erected 
to shelter the cattle. Barns may be built to store the grain and hay, 
to prevent injury from the weather. While the boys are engaged in 
assisting their fathers in these things, the girls ought to help their mo- 
thers in keeping the house clean, in spinning, in making clothes, in 
cooking victuals, and every business that is suitable for their sex. 

" Brothers, by thus uniting in promoting improvements, you would 
soon make your farms to equal some of the best of your white neigh- 
bours ; and if you would fully make the experiment, you would find 
that what we tell you is true. 

" Brothers, it is good that parents tenderly love their children. It is 
also the duty of children to love and serve their parents. Families 
should live together in harmony; and when men and their wives differ 
and part, and marry to others, it is wrong — it is an injury to their chil- 
dren, and displeasing to the Great Spirit. We wish you seriously to 
think of these things, and to discourage so injurious a practice. 

" Brothers, you have often been told by your friends, that the use of 
spirituous liquors is hurtful. We must again repeat it — we wish you 
to keep your minds strong on this subject, and often advise such of your 
people as are in the use of it to decline the practice. 

" Brothers, we think it our duty to caution you not to listen to every 
voice that would divide you into parties. It will make you weak in 
your councils. Your enemies may take advantage of it, and by this 
means, the very land that you own may slide from you." 

To the foregoing communication, the chief warrior made a short 
reply, but intimated that they must confer together on the subject of 
Friends' communication, and wished to meet them again in council, in 
two days, when they would reply more particularly. 

At the close of this interview, which appeared to be solemn, one of 
the Friends present communicated some sentiments on the subject of 
religion, and the nature of true worship to the Great Spirit — stating 
that it might be performed while engaged in their fields, on the road, 
or while sitting with their families by their firesides. This they ap- 
peared fully to comprehend; and the chief warrior replied, " it was his 
religion, and the only one with which he was acquainted." 

This short though sincere confession of faith, from a native Indian, 
was a corroborating evidence that they were not destitute of the divine 
principle operating in the heart of man, which teaches him what con- 
stitutes the true worship of God, and requires not the aid of men or 
books to accomplish it, but is performed according to Christ's testimony 
" in spirit and in truth," arising from the sincere homage of a devout 
heart. 



80 

It appeared that the Indians at this place were also dividedinto parties, 
which prevented that free intercourse and conference with each other, 
which in former councils, were manifest, in forming th-ir replies to 
Friends — and without a design to impeach the sincere n fives of any 
religious sect of professing christians, I may here state, fi m the obser- 
vations made, and the information received on this visit,. that the intro- 
duction of these, under the character of missionaries, on their land at 
Buffalo, where the chief councils of the nation are held, had created great 
uneasiness among them, and was a prominent cause of their present 
difficulties, and conflicting opinions. Some of the Indians had attached 
themselves to the missionary system, and joined in their modes of wor- 
ship, singing, &c. and these were looked upon as converted to the chris- 
tian faith. Hence the others, who were opposed to the missionary plans, 
were branded with the epithet of pagans, a term hateful to Indians, 
and which they did not fully understand. Thus a spirit of jealousy was 
excited between the parties, and a fear entertained by some, that the 
introduction of missionaries on their land was designed to obtain a per- 
manent possession, and eventually to dispossess them of it. 

At the appointed time to meet them again in council, Friends attend- 
ed, when the Indians of each party made replies to the former 
communication of Friends, which, for novelty of opinions, and to show 
the dilemma in which the Indians were involved, the reader will indulge 
me to give at considerable length. 

The chief warriors, on behalf of the one part, opened the council in 
the following manner. 

" Brothers, the Great Spirit has blessed us, and enabled us once more 
to meet in council, with our brothers, the Quakers. We feel thankful 
that the Great Spirit has preserved our friends in health who have come 
to see us. 

" Brothers, we want you not to be displeased, if we of this party open 
our minds to you. We are going to tell you our situation. Some of us 
pay attention and observe the sabbath day — others do not. We wish 
you now, brothers, to give us suitable advice, and make our difficulties 
straight, as you understand how to remove difficulties. 

" Brothers, you know the cause of our difficulties. You know the 
reason we are divided. The young men who sit here (pointing to four 
or five who sat near him,) think different from the old ones. Our old 
men observe the sabbath, or First day. We are not prepared for it. 
We wish you to tell us which is best. Whether to do as our old men 
do, or follow our old customs. 

" Brothers, we have heard from the Quakers, that it is a bad thing 
for a nation to divide, and you wished us to be of one mjnd as one man 



81 

— and now we want you to tell us which is the best plan for us to pur- 
sue — whether white people's customs, or our old ones. On the other 
hand, you have been well acquainted, from old time, with our ancient 
customs. We meet three times in the year to worship the Great Spirit; 
and we want you now to put us right about it, and give us your advice 
on this subject, whether we shall keep the sabbath, or continue to ad- 
here to our former practice of worshipping the Great Spirit. 

" Brothers, it is now many years since you have taken us by the 
hand, and have yearly given us advice. We intend to follow the advice 
we have heard from you ; but some of our old men have been drawing 
towards the missionaries, and keeping the First-day. 

" Brothers, we hope you fully understand what we have said, and 
wish the chain of friendship still may be kept bright between us and 
you — and that you will not be displeased at what we *have said to 
you." 

A chief, named Strong, of the opposite party, then spoke nearly as 
follows: 

" Brothers, yesterday we deliberated among ourselves, and we wanted 
to have our minds made up and united. When our younger brother 
proposed the foregoing questions to be put to our brothers the Quakers, 
we were glad ; hoping they would make the thing straight among us. 

" Brothers, I will now tell you our minds about it, and the reason 
why we have undertaken to keep the First-day of the week. Last 

season we went to a council at Buffalo, our agent P , showed us a 

paper which came from the President, which stated that he wanted his 
brothers, the Indians, to take hold of improvements, and also to keep 
the First-day of the week. He also wanted our children to learn their 
books. He told us that Congress had made an appropriation for the 
purpose of improving the condition of the Indians, and he wished to 
know whether they would accept it. We told the agent we had the 
Quakers living beside us, with whom we were satisfied; and if any help 
came from the President, we wished it to come through the Quakers. 
Our agent told us, the Quakers, he knew were friends to us; they have 
property of their own to help you. Congress has also appropriated 
money to assist you, and you should leave it to the President to dispose 
of that, as he thinks best for your benefit. We, therefore, concluded 
to pay attention to both the Quakers and the President, and have 
friends of both. We saw that many of the different nations of Indians 
were becoming civilized, and that the Seneca nation still remained in 
their old habits. We saw that the Quakers and the ministers, (mean- 
ing missionaries,) both observed the First-day. We concluded, as they 
11 



did so, it must be an appointment of the Great Spirit to keep Uiat day 
holy. We then thought, that as he had appointed it we must observe 
it also. Some of our people were wicked. They stole, and committed 
many bad actions. We thought we would endeavour to have our chil- 
dren instructed, while young, which would be better for them. We 
have been told, the world had been made a long time, when the 
Great Spirit sent his son, who brought light into the world, and wished 
that knowledge might be spread among mankind. Your brothers 
have often told us, there was but one God over all — we, therefore, 
thought our friends would be pleased if we should endeavour to 
christianize our children. We then inquired among our people who 
were prepared for keeping First-day. Many of them were pleased 
with it, and prepared to observe it, and others were not. And 
after a while, a minister came along, and wanted to know if they 
wished to hear him preach. We consulted among ourselves, and con- 
cluded that when a minister came of his own accord, if he was a good 
man, he ought to be heard, but if he wanted to come and live amongst 
us and preach to us steadily, we would not accept him, or have a mi- 
nister that our children could not understand. But we rather concluded 
to have some of our own people to give good advice to our children, on 
First-day, that they might improve and grow better. Some of our peo- 
ple have often heard of the accounts given in the Bible, and we thought 
it was right for us to keep First-day and hear good advice, or be read 
to, out of the Bible. The ministers who come here arc different from 
our friends the Quakers. They are only travellers. Our friends the 
Quakers have given us a writing on parchment, stating that they would 
never bring any charge against us for what they have done." 

Friends, in their former council, had impressed upon the Indians the 
necessity of having their children instructed in school learning, and of- 
fered to supply them with a teacher, provided they would erect a school 
house, and send their children. The chief warrior, in reply, stated, that 
on consulting among themselves, both parties were willing to have their 
children instructed, and would endeavour to procure a house for that 
purpose. He also made some remarks on the advantages they had al- 
ready received from the instruction of Friends, and among other things 
said, 

" Brothers, in your good advices, you have cautioned us against the 
use of strong drink. There is a great alteration among us in that re- 
spect, and many of us are much improved both in this, and in industri- 
ous habits. Long ago we had no fences, no cattle, and were destitute 
of many other things which we now enjoy. We see a great difference 



83 

in our people. We think we shall get along, though perhaps it may 
be slowly. 

" Brothers, this village is divided into three or four districts, in each 
of which there are persons appointed to endeavour to have your advices 
put in practice. When they see any disorders, they are to treat with 
their brothers in order to reclaim them." 

They were then informed, that as the day was far spent, Friends 
would retire a few minutes to consult together, and return them an 
answer. In about half an hour, Friends returned again to the council 
house, and after informing them that (although they were divided in 
some things,) they were glad they were of one mind about the educa- 
tion of their children ; and as soon as they got their house in readiness, 
they might inform Friends of it, and they would endeavour to furnish 
them with a teacher. 

They were then presented with the following observations in writing, 
as the best advice that Friends could give them in their present divided 
and critical situation. 

" Brothers, when your friends the Quakers came among you, their 
design was to improve your condition — to teach you to build more com- 
fortable houses, to cultivate your land, to raise more grain, so as to en- 
able you to raise and support more cattle — to educate your children, 
and to advance in all the useful habits of civilized life. 

" Brothers, we believe that men ought to live, so as to seek for the 
assistance of the Good Spirit, to enable them to love and worship him 
— and although it is our practice to meet together to worship him, yet 
we do not wish to force upon you any of our performances in religion. 
We think it right that every man should follow the teachings of the 
Good Spirit, in his own heart, which, if attended to, would always lead 
him in the right path. 

" Brothers, we beseech you not to let any thing divide you into par- 
ties, and make you feel enmity one against another. It would put you 
back in your improvements, it will make you weak — it is contrary to 
all right religion, and displeasing to the Great Spirit." 

Signed, Samuel Bettle. 

William Newbold, 
Halliday Jackson. 

Several of the. chiefs seemed desirous of having a more decided reply 
to the question they had urged upon us, with regard to the observation 
of the First-day of the week ; and although they well knew the practice 
of Friends in meeting together for public worship on that day, yet it 



84 

was believed most expedient, under their present circumstances, not to 
enforce it upon them. They were again recommended to attend strictly 
to the one, unerring guide, the voice of the Good Spirit in their own 
hearts, which was sufficient to direct them in the right path, without the 
teachings of any man; and that as they were obedient to this principle, 
it would gradually enlighten their understandings, and by degrees they 
would come to see more light. 

This council concluded, with a hearty farewell by Friends, who in- 
formed them that they parted with them in as sincere friendship as 
they had ever done; having the same regard for one party as for the 
other. 

From what transpired in this council, it was very evident that their 
difficulties and divisions arose from the introduction of the missionary 
system. By enforcing the observation of the Sabbath, so called, and 
inculcating doctrines and dogmas, which the Indians could not compre- 
hend, and were not prepared to adopt, their ideas with regard to reli- 
gion had become confused. Hence some were disposed to make the 
observation of the Sabbath and some formal ceremonies, essential and 
fundamental points, — while others, jealous of the encroachments of mis- 
sionaries on their land, and fearing they might have some sinister mo- 
tives in view, were disposed to lay aside all ideas of imitating the whites 
in the practice of religion and worship, and adhere only to their old • 
Indian customs, in this respect. 

From Cattaraugus, Friends again returned to Alleghany, and had 
some further interviews with their chiefs respecting the schooling of 
their children, and although a few of them continued to be opposed to 
having a school on their land, yet the greater part were anxious for it, 
and expressed strong desires that a school might again be established 
among them. 

While the committee remained at Alleghany, they were visited by 
the son of the ancient Guy-us-ku-ta, mentioned in the early part of this 
narrative. He had learned the blacksmith business — was fifty-six years 
of age, and had lived with his present wife thirty-four years, and never 
had any other. A chief of the same age, who accompanied him, had 
twelve children by one wife, with whom he still lived. 

These circumstances, among all their depravity in this respect, may 
be noted to their credit. 

Although these Indians were not yet prepared to make a division of 
their land into lots, so as for each to have his distinct property, yet the 
practice of buying and selling each other's improvements was becoming 
more frequent among them. In several instances they had applied to 
Friends to value them, and this circumstance, it was hoped, would open 
their ideas more to the advantage of individual possessions, and in time. 



85 

Induce them to adopt the plan that had been recommended, of dividing 
their land. 

The young man, in the capacity of a schoolmaster, again commenced 
teaching their children, and devoted a part of his time to visiting them 
in their houses, in a more familiar way, and also affording them in- 
struction in the labours of the field. It was evident, that those who 
had the most frequent intercourse with Friends, had made the greatest 
progress in the arts of civilized life. 

In the spring of 1821, an Indian lad, (the son of one of their principal 
chiefs) who had been brought to the neighbourhood of Philadelphia, 
instructed in school learning, and taught the shoemaker's trade, re- 
turned to his father at Alleghany, and immediately commenced his 
business, which promised to be advantageous to him, as well as a great 
accommodation to the Indians. 

The frequent solicitations of the pre-emption holders, continued to 
be a source of uneasiness to the Indians — as they urged the necessity 
of having surveys and drafts made of their different reservations of land, 
to be divided and kept by the pre-emption holders, in order that when 
the Indians were disposed to sell, each one might know the quantity as 
well as the quality of such reservation, as they were about to purchase. 
In the Twelfth month, this year, the following statistical account of 
the Indians at Alleghany was furnished to the author by the school- 
master, who resided among them, which will exhibit the improvements 
made by about thirty-five families, though it is cause of regret that the 
account was not completed — there being about forty families more, 
which were not included. 

The dates affixed to the names of individuals, is the time the account 
was taken. 

Big John, Tentfi month 23, 1820. — Has about twenty acres of cleared 
land, raised eight acres of corn, three of oats, one of potatoes — about 
forty apple-trees, several of which are bearing fruit — three cows, four 
calves, one # steer, one yoke of oxen, four horses, eighteen pigs, one 
plough, and one wagon. 

William Piatt, 30 years of age. — Fifteen acres of cleared land — a 
considerable quantity of corn, three acres of oats, half an acre of pota- 
toes, one yoke of oxen, and twenty pigs. 

Levi Halftown, blacksmith. — Nine and a half acres of land cleared — 
one yoke of oxen, two cows, one calf, two horses, one plough and ox 
chains, seven hogs and eight pigs. 

Long John, Tenth month 25, 48 or 50 years of age. — Has twelve 
children by one wife, with whom he still lives — twenty acres of cleared 
land, seven acres of corn, four of oats, a quantity of potatoes, two yoke 



86 

of oxen, three cows, one heifer, three calves, twelve hogs, and a num- 
ber of pigs; one wagon, and ploughs. 

Stephen, a blacksmith, 56 years old, and son of the ancient Guy-us- 
hu-ta. — Eight acres of corn, four of oats, one of potatoes, four of mowing 
grass, one yoke of oxen, five cows, six calves, fifteen hogs and pigs, and 
one plough. 

John Jemison, 24 years old. — Fifteen acres of cleared land, four acres 
of oats, one of buckwheat, four of corn, potatoes, and beans; sixteen 
hogs and several pigs, two horses, two cows, one heifer, one calf, one 
yoke of oxen, one steer. Ploughed last spring about thirty acres of land, 
twenty-one of which was hired by other Indians at two dollars per acre 
— has put up a new barn fifty feet long — made new fence to enclose 
six acres of land the present season. 

Big Jacob, 50 years old. — Eight or ten acres of cleared land, five 
acres of corn, four of oats, one of potatoes, one yoke of oxen, three yoke 
of steers, four cows, one calf, five hogs and near twenty pigs; has sown 
one bushel of wheat this fall. 

Moses Pierce, aged 32. — Twenty acres and a half of land, two and a 
half of corn, three and a half of oats, quarter of potatoes, one and a half of 
hay, one yoke of oxen, two cows, three young steers, one calf, five hogs 
and seven pigs; makes ploughs, sleighs, and does carpenter work. 

John Pierce, Eleventh month 3, aged 56. — Twenty acres of cleared 
land, raised five acres of corn, one and a half of potatoes, four of oats, 
four of grass, has eight head of cattle, fifteen hogs and pigs. 

Eli Jemison, twenty-seven years old. — Has begun a new improvement 
in the woods, and has about three acres cleared — parted with his old 
field, which contained six acres, raised three acres of corn, half an acre 
of potatoes, and one acre of turnips, five hogs, one yoke of steers, one 
cow, one heifer, one plough and wagon. 

Simon Pierce, Eleventh month 16, 26 years old. — Fourteen acres of 
land, five acres of corn, three of oats, half an acre of potatoes, two of 
wheat, three and a half of meadow, two cows, two heifers, two steers, 
one ox, four hogs and ten pigs. 

Billy, 50 years old. — Raised fifty bushels of corn, half an acre of po- 
tatoes, one cow, one calf, and three hogs. 

William Johnson, Twelfth month 2, 50 years old. — Eleven acres of 
land, raised six acres of corn, half an acre of potatoes, quantity of beans, 
one yoke of oxen, two cows, two heifers, twelve hogs and pigs. 

Morris Halftown, First month 31, 1821, 26 years old. — Eighteen acres 

of tend, raised last year three and a half acres of corn, six of oats, one 

and a half of potatoes, two and a half of hay, one yoke of oxen, two 

cows, three steers, one calf, one horse, four pigs, and three hogs. 

Israel Jemison, Second month 2, 30 years of age,-— Fourteen acres of 



87 

ictnd cleared, and four more part cleared, three and a half acres of corn, 
three of oats, two of buckwheat, half an acre of peas, one of potatoes, 
one of wheat, two and a half of meadow, two yoke of oxen, two cows, 
one yoke of steers, six hogs, fourteen pigs; killed in the fall five hogs- 
one plough, one cart and log chains. 

John Dick, Third month 29, 65 or 70 years old. — Had last year two 
acres of spring wheat, four of oats, three horses, and one hog. 

Jemison, a blacksmith, 54 years old. — Ten and a half acres of land, ' 
three horses, two cows, three calves, three hogs and four pigs, and kill- 
ed three hogs for pork; five acres of corn, one of potatoes, three of oats, 
half an acre of peas, one plough, and harness for horses. 

Jacob Taylor, Fifth month 10, 40 years old. — Five and a half acres 
of land, one yoke of steers, one heifer, four hogs, — corn, oats, and 
potatoes, quantity not mentioned. 

James Robeson, Seventh month 1, 48 years of age. — Thirteen and a 
half acres of land, planted five acres of corn, half an acre of potatoes, 
two acres of spring wheat, three and a half of oats, two and a half of 
meadow, nine head of cattle, seven hogs, one plough, one harrow, chains 
and sled. 

Blue Eyes. — Twelve acres of land, quantity of corn, one acre of 
wheat, three and a half of oats, sowed half a bushel of flaxseed, two 
and a half acres of meadow, one yoke of oxen, five cows, three calves, 
four hogs, twenty-two pigs, five horses, plough, chains, &c. 

John Watt, 35 years old. — Three acres of corn, half an acre of pota- 
toes, four hogs, twenty-six pigs. 

Jonathan Titus, 55 years old. — Three acres of land, two cattle, and 
three pigs. 

Jacob Snow, Seventh month 8, 50 years old. — Five acres of land, 
three acres of corn, one and a half of potatoes, one-third of an acre of 
beans, and four hogs. 

Jacob Thomas, 28 or 30 years old. — Eight acres of land, three of 
corn, two of oats, three-fourths of an acre of peas, some potatoes, seven 
cattle, seven hogs, and seven pigs. 

Big John, Seventh month 23, 53 years old. — Fourteen acres of land, 
five acres of corn, one of potatoes, five of oats, three of meadow, six- 
teen head of cattle, four horses, and thirteen hogs. 

William Halftown, aged 26.— Fourteen and a half acres of land, ten of 
which he lately had cleared, for which he paid fourteen dollars per acre 
for clearing; one acre of corn, two of oats, two and a half meadow, one 
yoke of oxen, one cow, one horse, plough, sled, and some bearing ap- 
ple-trees. 

John Bone, 33 years old. — Three acres of corn, two of oats, two of 
meadow, four cattle, one plough. 



, W . 88 

George Silverheels, 43 years old: — Ten and a half acres of land, 
eight head of cattle, eleven hogs, five acres of corn, one of potatoes, 
one of oats, one and a half of meadow — has lately commenced a new 
improvement. 

John Lewis, Eighth month 4, 21 years of age. — Five acres of land, 
mostly in Avith corn, one yoke of steers, one heifer, and eight hogs. 

Bucktooth, 55 years old. — Ten acres of land enclosed, six acres of 
corn, three horses, one heifer, and eleven hogs. 

Jacob Strong, Eighth month 14, 32 years old. — Eleven acres of land, 
three of corn, one and half of potatoes, one and half of oats, one and a 
half of meadow, one cow, two heifers, one calf, ten hogs, one plough — 
has put up a. good house with stone chimneys up and down stairs. 

Jacob Jemison, Ninth month 3, 30 years of age. — Four acres of corn, 
one and a half of oats, three-fourths meadow, one yoke of oxen, one 
cow, about twenty head of swine, one plough and chains. 

David Halftown. — Five acres of corn, one of buckwheat, two of oats, 
one of potatoes, two of beans and other vegetables, one yoke of oxen, 
two cows, one yoke of steers, five hogs, one plough and chains. 

Fight Thompson, 34 years of age. — Three acres of corn, half an acre 
of potatoes, one patch of turnips, one yoke of oxen, one calf, five hogs, 
and one plough. 

William Patterson, Tenth month 1, 28 years old. — Four acres of 
corn, two of oats, two cows, and nine hogs, which he is fattening. 

From the foregoing account of thirty-five families, it appears they had 
about four hundred and forty acres of cleared land, one hundred and 
fifteen of which was cultivated with corn, seventy-one with oats, nine 
with wheat, seventeen with potatoes, and thirty-two in meadow ground. 
They possessed twenty-six horses, twenty-two yoke of oxen, one 
hundred and fifty-five other cattle, and nearly four hundred head of 
swine. But little account is given of their improvements in building 
— this having been heretofore noticed in this work. 

In the spring of 1822, a school Avas opened on the land owned by 
Friends, for the instruction of the Indian children at the Alleghany 
settlement; the schools hitherto kept for their instruction, having 
been mostly on the Indians' land. This school was continued for several 
years, under the care of a teacher who had devoted many years of 
his time to the instruction of the natives. In 1823, it was attended by 
an average number of about twenty children, most of whom were in 
the rudiments of their learning, but made considerable progress for the 
time they had attended, and their general deportment gave satisfactory- 
evidence of an improvement in other respects. Another Friend, who 
resided among them at this period, afforded them instruction in some of 



89 

the mechanic arts ; and through this, and the succeeding year, notwith- 
standing the existence of various difficulties in relation to the prosecu- 
tion of this desirable object, a spirit of industry and attention to busi- 
ness continued to be apparent with many of the natives. 

In 1825, the school continued to be attended by about twenty chil- 
dren, whose conduct and improvement were satisfactory. Many of the 
natives had become increasingly sensible of the need they had of further 
instruction, especially in those branches of domestic economy in which 
females are commonly engaged. 

The Friend and his wife, who had long resided at this settlement 
having withdrawn therefrom, for a considerable time, another Friend, 
with his wife and a single female, offered their services, arid proceeded 
to that settlement in the summer of this year, to unite with the two 
Friends there, in their arduous and interesting service. A school was 
established for the instruction of young females, and in 1826 the ac- 
counts were encouraging, of the progress made by the Indian girls in 
their studies, as well as in knitting, spinning, and other employments 
adapted to their sex. The school for the boys was also regularly at- 
tended, and their conduct satisfactory. Between school hours, they 
were employed on the farm at agricultural labours, or otherwise in the 
shop at some mechanical business; and the regular industrious habits 
thus encouraged and inculcated among the youth, it was evident, would 
have a beneficial effect in the formation of their future character. 

From a more particular investigation into the state of the Indians at 
the Alleghany settlement, about this period, it appeared that eighty 
families, composed of four hundred and thirty -nine individuals, possessed 
four hundred and seventy-nine head of cattle, fifty-eight horses, three 
hundred and fifty hogs, and six hundred and ninety-nine acres of im- 
proved land, in which seventy acres of meadow were included ; two 
hundred and thirty-nine acres were the last season planted with corn, 
forty-two with potatoes, thirty-eight sown with wheat, and one hundred 
and sixteen with oats, besides a quantity of buckwheat, and divers sorts 
of vegetables. But notwithstanding these encouraging circumstances 
in agricultural pursuits, and the prosperous state of the schools of both 
sexes, affording strong ground to believe, that this people might be es- 
sentially and permanently benefitted by the labour of Friends, yet their 
situation, at this period, was particularly trying, and critical, from the 
great liability to be dispossessed of their possessions. The continued 
applications in various ways of those claiming the pre-emption right, 
and the evident influence they were gradually making on the minds 
of some of the Indians, gave uneasiness to others more considerate 
and reflecting among them, and their fears in this respect soon became 
realized; for the Seneca nation, finally, were induced to part with large 
12 



90 

bodies of their lands in different places to the pre-emption holders*. 
These sales (the amount of which I have not ascertained) were parte 
of the Cattaraugus, Buffalo, and Tonewanta reservations, and some 
smaller reservations near the Genessee river. The reservation at Al- 
leghany, where the greatest improvements in agriculture were made, 
remained in the hands of the Indians; and could this avaricious disposi- 
tion on the part of the whites to obtain their land be here restrained, 
and the natives left in the undisturbed possession of their rightful in~ 
heritance, the Seneca nation have yet a sufficiency of land to accommo- 
date their numbers, and with industry and care, in pursuing their 
agricultural labours, they might obtain all the necessary comforts of life* 

The progress made by the Indians at the Cattaraugus settlement, 
and the favourable situation of their land for cultivation, with proper 
attention on their part, had induced Friends to withdraw their aid for 
several years past, as it regarded an instructor among them. And the 
settlement, having been now continued among the Indians at the Alle- 
ghany for about thirty years, it was believed the time was nearly come 
to withdraw from them ; and, accordingly, the Friends residing at Tune- 
sassa, returned home in the year 1828, and left the Indians to improve 
on the instructions already received from the long and arduous labours 
of the society of Friends. 

Having no official means at command, of obtaining correct informa- 
tion of their real situation at present, I am not able to, bring this ac- 
count to as satisfactory a close as would be desirable; but from the best 
information I can obtain on the subject, it appears, that the Indians 
continue to progress in agricultural pursuits, and in some of the me- 
chanic arts; and some of their own people have kept schools for the in- 
struction of the youth. 

But it is also said, that the constant pressure upon them to obtain 
their land, affords strong ground to fear, that their former sales were 
only a prelude to their parting with the remainder, at no very distant 
period. 

It is, however, a consoling reflection to the society of Friends, that 
they have extended a benevolent hand to this poor, degraded, and much 
injured people; and even should they finally be induced to part with, 
and relinquish the remnants of their present possession, and migrate to 
a more distant clime, the instruction they have already received in the 
mechanic arts, together with their knowledge of agriculture, will greatly 
contribute to their happiness and comfort, in the land in which they 
may settle, and not only so, but the benefits resulting from their know- 
ledge of civilized habits be extended to more distant and savage tribes. 

In concluding this account of the proceedings of Friends of the Yearly 
Meeting of Philadelphia, it may be proper to state, that many indivi- 



91 

duals, both male and female, from an apprehension of duty, have 1 , 
at different periods, devoted many years of their time to the instruction 
of the natives, and have had the consoling evidence of peace for their 
labours. But as this benevolent work could not be accomplished, with- 
out very considerable expense to the society, voluntary subscriptions 
were raised, at different periods, to a large amount, in which it is but 
just to acknowledge, that the society of Friends in England, feeling a 
lively interest in this righteous work, liberally contributed to a fund for 
that purpose, which the Yearly Meeting of New York and Baltimore 
partook of, for the purpose of aiding them in extending their benevo- 
lent views, in promoting civilization among various tribes, and of whose 
proceedings therein, a short account will be here subjoined. 



%& brief account of the proceedings of Friends of the Yearly Meet- 
ing of New York, in promoting civilization among the Indians, 
residing in that state. 

It wHl be seen in the early part of this narrative, that Friends of the 
Yearly Meeting of Pennsylvania, first promoted a settlement among the 
Oneida nation living near the Mohawk river, in the state of New York. 
They also extended some aid to the Stockbridges, and some other tribes 
in that quarter. This attention was continued from the spring of 1796, 
till about the close of the year 1799, when Friends withdrew from 
them; and the Yearly Meeting of New York, being actuated by the 
same benevolent motives to improve the condition of the aboriginal in- 
habitants, appointed a committee for that special purpose, who sent 
instructors among them, and continued to aid and assist them in agri- 
cultural pursuits, in some of the mechanic arts, and in school learning, 
for many years. But as I have not at command the means of furnish- 
ing a particular account of the gradual advancement made in the civil- 
ized arts among those Indians, I can only say, that in the prosecution 
of the work, Friends have had many difficulties to encounter; and the 
Indiaas have frequently been disturbed and harassed, by the same 
covetous spirit, that so frequently annoyed the Seneca nation, in order 
to dispossess them of their land. In consequence of this many of the 
tribes have been induced to sell and remove far to the westward. 

By the kindness of a Friend in New York, I have been furnished with 
an account of some of the more recent transactions of the society of 
Friends, towards the Indians. He states some of the difficulties to which 



92 

the Indians are subjected, by the officious interference of a proselyting 
spirit, which has much agitated several of the tribes, and created par- 
ties and animosities among them. The ultimate object appears to be, to 
unsettle them in their present possessions, and eventually to induce them 
to abandon the rightful inheritance of their fathers. 

It appears from the account, that the Onondaga tribe are the only 
Indians at present under the care of the Yearly Meeting of New York; 
and the only tribe in that state united among themselves, and exempt 
from a party under the influence of a blind missionary zeal — de- 
sirous to relinquish their present possessions and emigrate. But a few 
years ago the Onondaga's were an indolent, drunken people, and de- 
sirous of moving to the westward, but as they have in a good degree 
embraced the counsel of Friends, become industrious, and availed them- 
selves of their local advantages, and tasted the sweets of their labour 
from the produce of the soil, a radical change has been effected among 
them. 

This tribe has for seven or eight years past been under the particular 
care and superintendence of Adin T. Corey, as agent for the com- 
mittee of the Yearly Meeting; and being well qualified for the import- 
ant trust, and feeling his mind devoted to it, the Indians have reposed 
great confidence in him, and distinguished him by the name of ' Oatnus,' 
and consider him as their benefactor, as will be seen in the following 
speech. 

Onondaga, Fourth mo. 27, 1829. 
"To the committee of the Yearly Meeting of New York, on Indian 
concerns. 

" Brothers — Oatnus, our brother, told us he was going to New York 
to attend the great council — and we thought good to send you a talk, 
to let you know our minds. First, we thank you for all your goodness 
in giving us the many useful things you have given us, for our benefit, 
and we thank the Great Spirit, who in his unspeakable mercy put it 
into your hearts to take us by the hand, and pity our condition; but 
most of all, that he put it into your hearts and the heart of our brother 
Oatnus, to come and live amongst us. 

" Brothers, he has been a wall about us, that in a great measure has 
fenced out the encroachments of our white neighbours. When he 
speak?, the white people hear, and they do not cheat us as they used 
to do. 

" Brothers, he lias improved our condition much every way. When 
lie came among us, we were hungry and almost naked, but now we are 
more comfortable. Our lands lay common, and were running up with 
bushes — now there are many of them fenced and well cultivated, yield- 



93 

ing an abundant supply of food for our people. Our young men, women, 
and children were running about doing no good — now, most of them are 
diligently and profitably employed. One of our young men has learned 
to work pretty well at blacksmithing — three lads have learned to make 
good shoes — our young women, most of them, can spin, knit, and sew, 
and some of them can weave. Oatnus has also transacted most of our 
business — made many bargains, and handled much of our money, and 
done all well — not one shilling sticks in his pocket — he has fed our hun- 
gry children, clothed our naked, and helped us when we were sick — 
when he came we were divided, now we are united — when there is war 
he makes peace — when he speaks our young men hear and keep mostly 
out of bad company — our farming begins to nourish, and although we 
have made much improvement, we still want a head — we cannot go 
alone, and if you leave us now, it will be like making us a very valu- 
able present, and taking it away again. 

" Brothers, remember, when our brother Oatnus come, we were wild 
and ignorant respecting business, and it must necessarily take a good 
while to tame a whole nation. 

" Brothers, our brother told us, our school was so thinly attended, he 
thought it would be best to drop it till winter, but we are unwilling it 
should stop, for fear our children will go back — we wish you to keep it 
going — some of us have been negligent in sending our children, but we 
will endeavour to be more diligent in the future, if we can be favoured 
with it. 

" Brothers, our very tried brother is growing old, and through abun- 
dance of labour and fatigue has grown feeble, having been sick a good 
deal, and cannot do as he used to do, yet we are not willing to part 
with him, we want him to stay enough with us, to oversee our business, 
manage our affairs, and sit with us in council. 

" Brothers, we still want to go on in improvement, and as our young 
man that has learned to work at smithing, has taken to farming in the 
summer season, we therefore want to get a sober goodly man, to come 
and set up his trade among us, and take some of our boys and learn 
them the trade. We also want a wagon maker, and a cooper of the 
above description, and for the same purpose, and we believe it might 
be done with very little expense to our brothers, if Oatnus stays with 
us a part of the time, and has the management of our affairs; for we 
have abundance of materials to carry on the two last mentioned trades, 
and part of the first; and our circumstances are very different now from 
what they were when he first came amongst us. 

" Brothers, we have concluded to build a saw-mill this season, among 
ourselves. 

" Brothers, it makes our hearts sick when we look abroad and sec 



94 

our Oneida and Seneca brethren, who have got the blackcoats and hurp 
gry mouths among them — for there is nothing but contention, spite, and 
animosity, and no business that is profitable — and we thank the Great 
Spirit that has sent us peace — sweet peace and no blackcoats. 

" Brothers, may the Great Spirit preside over your councils — make 
you love one another, remember your real brethren and do much good. 
Farewell. 

Signed by the chiefs and some of the warriors. 

To the foregoing speech the committee on Indian affairs made the 
following reply: 

" Brothers, we have received by the hands of brother Oatnus your 
communication to us, and it has made our hearts glad; and, that our 
brothers and sisters of the Great council might hear it, we gave it to 
them to read, and it made their hearts glad also, and greatly to rejoice, 
to hear from you and to hear that Oatnus did well with you — and that 
you listened to his voice. 

" Brothers, we cannot tell you how much we want you to improve 
in all things — we know you cannot do every thing at once, but we want 
you to hearken to our counsel — we love you — we desire your good, and 
that you may increase and leave a good name behind you, when try? 
Great Spirit shall take you away. 

" Brothers, remember we can only counsel you for good — if you take 
our counsel the Great Spirit will help you. 

" Brothers, you have now witnessed a little of the rewards of the 
Good Spirit, in taking our counsel and the counsel of our brother Oat- 
nus — our counsel to you is, that you continue to improve as you have 
begun. 

" Brothers, be sober, be industrious — love to improve yourselves, and 
the Great Spirit will bountifully assist you. 

" Brothers, we want you to mind the Great Spirit, to be industrious 
— to try to learn yourselves — to keep out of bad company— to avoid 
strong drink — to counsel with brother Oatnus, who will never deceive 
you, but counsel you for your good. 

Signed, &c. 

Fifth mo. 29, 1828. 

By a report of the committee on Indian affairs dated the twenty- 
seventh of the Fifth-month, 1830, and presented to the Yearly Meeting 
held in the same month, it appears that during the past year, the Onon- 
daga tribe have received their care and attention as heretofore, and 
that those Indians arc realizing in an unprecedented manner, the fruits 
of their own industry, being stimulated and encouraged, by the care 



05 

which Friends have extended towards them, for a few years past, which 
affords great cause for encouragement. There is a striking contrast 
between their situation now, and what it was seven years ago, when 
their only buildings were two small barns, and a few inferior huts. The 
lands which they then had cleared, were very imperfectly cultivated, 
and the state and quality as well as quantity of their stock, as also 
teams and utensils of husbandry of every kind, were correspondent. 
Since that time, they have greatly increased their quantity of cleared 
land; this season they had about three hundred acres of wheat — their 
crops are more abundant, furnishing more than a supply for their peo- 
ple. The fencing and arrangement of their fields are farmer-like and 
judicious. The number of their barns is increased to about twenty — 
their teams of horses and oxen, are numerous and efficient — they are 
pretty well supplied with wagons, harness, ploughs, and other farming 
utensils, and these articles are kept in tolerable repair. Many of their 
present dwellings, though small, are comfortable frame buildings, and 
their household furniture consists mostly of useful and plain articles — 
such as are used in civilized life. 

On a good mill stream within their territory, which consists of a re- 
servation of about ten thousand acres, the committee's superintendent, 
during the past year, aided by the individual labour of the Indians, 
raised a substantial dam, and by a discreet dispensation of their re- 
sources, and by a general economy introduced among them, has collect- 
ed about five hundred dollars, which defrayed the expenses of erecting a 
good saw-mill, which the Indians find to be highly useful and productive. 

As the same stream furnished an eligible site for a grist-mill, at no 
great distance from those improvements, and as the reducing of their 
grain into meal for this tribe, was performed by the manual labour of 
the women in a great measure, the committee were encouraged to be- 
lieve, that as they duly appreciated the benefits resulting from their 
newly erected saw-mill, and from the increased display of mechanical 
genius, industry, and method among them, the time was not far distant 
when further and more useful improvements will be made by them- 
selves, calculated to raise their habits in domestic and civilized life, and 
elevate their minds to a steady pursuit of their more substantial hap- 
piness and welfare. 

The committee not having been able to comply with the Indians' re- 
quest, made in their speech two years ago, for a blacksmith, wagon 
maker, and cooper to be placed among them, as no suitable persons had 
offered for that purpose, and also the school having been dropped, that 
had formerly been kept, and in a flourishing condition among them, 
partly for want of sufficient funds to continue a permanent teacher, 
these subjects were again suggested to the Yearly Meeting, with an 



96 

earnest wish to inspire in the minds of Friends a feeling that might 
prove beneficial in promoting these desirable objects. 

Notwithstanding this concern, to meliorate the condition of the In- 
dians, has been prosecuted for many years by the committee, with at 
times, but little evidence of good resulting to these people, from their 
labours, yet from more recent developments evinced from the latter 
experience and research of the committee, though the prospect is an 
arduous one, it presents encouragement, and the field of labour is 
brightening, as the hidden causes of past obstructions present them- 
selves. 

The committee say fn their report, " It appears that many associa- 
tions are formed in this country, and some of them under the denomi- 
nation of benevolent and religious; all apparently well disposed, and 
even anxious to promote the good and the happiness of these original 
proprietors of the soil. Yet unhappily for these, the means resorted to, 
to advance their prosperity, have (in too many instances) been elevated 
above their comprehensions, and not adapted to their wants, their habits, 
and their religious views. From a zeal beyond knowledge, to benefit 
these people, agents and missionaries have been settled among them, 
patronized by these associations, little qualified to inspire their confi- 
dence and respect, and in their zealous pretensions to christianize, 
previous to properly instructing in the arts of civilized life, they 
produce discouragement and incalculable injury, divisions and dissen- 
tions; and in the language of the Indians themselves, 'quarrelling and 
contention, spite and animosity, and no business that is profitable.' 

" Since the Onondaga tribe has been under the care of the commit- 
tee, the missionaries have been inclined to leave them to the care of 
Friends. And this tribe, which a few years ago was divided and full 
of dissention, is restored to union and harmony, and there is a laudable 
feeling springing up among them, and an increased desire to become 
introduced into, and firmly fixed in the habits of civilization." 

The committee, in time past, having extended some care to several 
tribes of the Seneca nation west of the Genessee river, are of the opi- 
nion that essential and lasting good might, by that care being further 
extended, result to those people. To show the desire of the Indians 
herein, the following speech of a principal chief, on behalf of a large 
majority of the Indians, in the state of New York, presented in the last 
winter, was laid before the Yearly Meeting. 

New York, January 20, 1830. 
" To the society of Friends of the city of New York. 
" At the treaty of Philadelphia with William Penn and the Six Na- 
tions, we considered William Penn as a friend to us, not wishing to cheat 



97 

us out of our lands, but to pay us a full value for them. Since that 
time, the society of Friends have treated us very kindly — they have 
never shown a disposition to wrong us out of our lands, but seemed to 
wish to cultivate friendship with us, and to let us have our rights and 
privileges — and to enjoy our own religion. But there are certain per- 
sons residing among us, at present, who we believe have a different 
object. They say they have been sent by the Great Spirit, but we do 
not think the Great Spirit would send people among us, to cheat us out 
of our lands, and to cause disturbance to arise amongst us, which has 
made a division in our nation. No, we do not think the Great Spirit 
sent the blackcoat's among us for any such purpose. There is at pre- 
sent five thousand of our people and upwards, who wish the society of 
Friends to send a suitable person among us, to teach our young men 
how to till the ground, and our young women the art of domestic ma- 
nufactures, and our children to read and write. If our friends feel dis- 
posed to comply with our wishes,- we shall be happy to receive them, 
and will cause all necessary buildings to be erected for their use — we 
think by having this plan carried into effect, the nation once more 
would be united, and become a happy people." 

Your friend, 

his 
Signed, Red X Jacket, 
mark 

Although the way has not yet opened to comply with the request in 
the foregoing communication, the committee were encouraged to per- 
severe in their services the present year, in rendering such aid for the 
benefit of this poor afflicted people, as the limited means within their 
power would, under the direction of best wisdom enable them to do. 



Some account of the proceedings of Friends of Baltimore Yearly 
Meeting. 

This concern for improving the condition of our red brethren, having 
been opened and spread in the Yearly Meeting of Baltimore, in the Ml 
of 1795, and the minds of Friends being much united, and actuated by 
benevolent motives to promote this desirable object, referred the same 
to a special committee, to proceed therein as way might open, to render 
essential service to these aboriginal inhabitants. Accordingly their 
13 



98 

attention was turned to some of the Indian tribes north-west of the 
river Ohio, and a deputation was. delegated to visit the Shawaneese, 
Delawares, Wyandots and such other natives in those parts as they 
might find practicable. They proceeded thereon, in the summer of 
1796, after having first obtained the approbation of the general govern- 
ment. 

When they arrived at the forks of the Muskingum river, where they 
had been informed a considerable number of Indians were collected, 
they found to their great disappointment, that the chiefs and hunters 
were dispersed: and it not appearing practicable to convene them at 
that time, to have a suitable conference with them, they returned with- 
out accomplishing the object of their visit. They, however, saw divers 
hunters and others, who appeared well disposed to receive the instruc- 
tion and assistance which Friends proposed to furnish them. 

In the spring of 1797, three Friends again proceeded to that country 
on an embassy, to inquire into the real situation of the Indian tribes; 
in the course of which visit, having passed by a number of their hunt- 
ing camps and several of their towns, they had a large opportunity of 
discovering their destitute condition, often exposed to the inclemency 
of the weather, with a very precarious, and often a very scanty supply 
of food and clothing. They suffered all the miseries of extreme poverty, 
in a country which from its great fertility, would, with but little culti- 
vation, supply them abundantly with all the necessaries of life. 

These Friends had opportunities with some of the chiefs and hunters 
of the Wyandot and Delaware nations, in which they informed them of 
the views of the society of Friends, relative to their improvement; and 
endeavoured to impress on their minds the advantages they would de- 
rive, from permitting to be introduced among their people, a know- 
ledge of agriculture, and some of the most useful mechanic arts. 

The Indians were attentive to their communications, and promised 
to lay these matters before their grand council, and inform Friends of 
their conclusions on the subject. 

As no way opened during the year 1798, for carrying the object of 
the Yearly Meeting into effect, but little was done, more than furnish- 
ing a few implements of husbandry, and some assistance to a few In- 
dian families, situated upon the branches of the Tuskarawee's river. 

In the Second month 1799, the committee received a speech and 
belt of wampum, from Tarhie, the principal chief of the Wyandot na- 
tion, delivered at Detroit, in the Ninth month preceding, of which the 
following is an extract. 

" Brethren Quakers — you remember we once mot at a certain place. 
When we had there met, a great many good things were .said, and 
much friendship was professed between us. 



99 

" Brothers, you told us at that time that you not only took us by the 
hand, but that you held us fast by the arm; that you then formed a 
chain of friendship. You said that it was not a chain of iron; but that 
it was a chain of precious metal, a chain of silver that would never 
gel rusty; and that this chain would bind us in brotherly affection for 
ever. 

" Brethren, listen. We have often heard that you were a good and 
a faithful people — ever ready to do justice, and good to all men without 
distinction of colour — therefore, we love you the more sincerely, be- 
cause of the goodness of your hearts, which has been talked of among 
our nation long since. 

" Brethren, listen. You have informed us that you intended to visit 
us. Yes, that even in our tents and cabins you will take us by the hand. 
You, brethren, cannot admit a doubt, but that we would be very happy 
to see you. 

" Brethren, listen. It is but proper to inform you at this time, that 
when you do come forward to see us, you will no doubt pass by my 
place of residence, at Sandusky. I will then take you not only by the 
hand, but by the arm, and will conduct you safe to the grand council 
fire of our great Sasteretsey, where all good things are transacted, and 
where nothing bad is permitted to appear. When in the grand council 
of our Sasteretsey we will then sit down together in peace and friend- 
ship, as brethren are accustomed to do, after a long absence, and remind 
each other, and talk of those things that took place between our good 
grandfathers, when they first met upon our lands — upon this great 
island. 

" Brethren, may the Great Spirit, the master of light and life* so dis- 
pose the hearts and minds of all our nations and people, that the cala- 
mities of war may never more be felt or known by any of them — that 
our roads and paths may never more be stained with the blood of our 
young warriors — and that our helpless women and children may live in 
peace and happiness." 

On considering the foregoing communication, some Friends were de- 
puted to make them a visit, and to afford such assistance as they might 
be enabled to render. They accordingly proceeded with an intention 
of being at their general council, and arrived on the third of the Sixth 
month at upper Sandusky, the principal village of the Wyandots, 
where they were received by Tarhie (the crane,) and others of that 
nation. 

On their arrival there, it appeared a mistake had been made in the 
translation of the speech the Indians had sent to Friends, respecting 
the time of opening their great council, to which Friends had been in- 



100 

vited. They were now informed that it began annually at the full 
moon in the Sixth month. 

Finding it would be difficult to procure food for themselves and 
horses there, until that time, the committee concluded it best to have 
a conference with Tarhie and other chiefs who were then in the neigh- 
bourhood of Sandusky, which was accordingly agreed to. At the time 
appointed they met at Tarhie's house, with several other chiefs, and a 
number of hunters, when they had a full opportunity with them, on the 
subject of their visit. 

Their communication appeared to be received with great satisfac- 
tion by the Indians, and in their answer, delivered on some strings of 
wampum, they expressed the gratitude they felt for the care and friend- 
ship, which their beloved brethren the Quakers had always manifested 
for the Indians, and promised as soon as the grand council met, that 
they should communicate fully to it, respecting the concern which the 
society felt for their improvement, and inform Friends by a written 
speech of their conclusion thereon. 

Whilst these Friends were at Sandusky and other villages, their 
minds were deeply affected under the sorrowful considerations of the 
baneful effects of spirituous liquors upon the Indians, who were at that 
time supplied with it in almost every village, by Canadian traders, re- 
siding amongst them — and they were confirmed in the opinion, that 
unless these traders could be restrained from furnishing them with 
this destructive article, in exchange for their skins and furs, they could 
not easily be persuaded to turn their minds towards agriculture and 
the mechanic arts. Notwithstanding which discouragement, the great 
affection they have for the society of Friends, manifested on all occa- 
sions whilst the committee were with them, induced them to hope that 
Friends would endeavour to keep under the weight of the concern, and 
be prepared to proceed in the benevolent work whenever way might 
open, for further service amongst them. 

In the year 1800 and 1801, no personal interview was had by 
Friends with those Indians. In the year 1 802, the Little Turtle, Five 
Medals, and several other principal chiefs of the Miami and Patawat- 
tamie nations passed through Baltimore, on their way to visit the Pre- 
sident of the United States, when the committee had a conference with 
them, in which the views of Friends were fully opened, and they were 
informed of the great discouragement Friends had met with, in carry- 
ing their benevolent designs into effect, from the intemperate and de- 
structive use of spirituous liquor amongst the Indians, which was found 
to be the greatest obstacle in the way of their profiting by the aid which 
the society had been desirous of giving them. 



101 

The Little Turtle in reply, made a very pathetic and impressive 
speech upon this subject, from which the following is extracted. 

" Brothers and friends — When our forefathers first met on this island, 
your red brethren were very numerous. But since the introduction of 
what you call spirituous liquors amongst us, and what we think may 
justly be called poison, our numbers are greatly diminished. It has 
destroyed a great part of your red brethren. 

" My brothers and friends — we plainly perceive that you see the very 
evil which destroys your red brethren; it is not an evil of our own 
making; we have not placed it amongst ourselves; it is an evil placed 
amongst us by the white people. We look to them to remove it out of 
our country. We tell them, brethren, fetch us useful things, bring 
goods that will clothe us, our women and our children, and not this evil 
liquor that destroys our reason — that destroys our health — that destroys 
our lives. But all we can say on this subject is of no service — it gives 
no relief to your red brethren. 

" My brothers and friends — I rejoice to find that you agree in opi- 
nion with us, and express an anxiety to be, if possible, of service to us 
in removing this great evil out of our country; an evil which has had 
so much room in it, and has destroyed so many of our lives, that it causes 
our young men to say, ' we had better be at war with the white peo- 
ple ; this liquor which they introduce into our country, is more to be 
feared than the gun and the tomahawk. There are more of us dead 
since the treaty of Grenville, than we lost by the six years war before- 
It is all owing to the introduction of this liquor amongst us. 

" Brothers, when our young men have been out hunting and are re- 
turning home loaded with skins and furs, on their way, if it happens 
that they come along where some of this liquor is deposited, the white 
man who sells it, tells them to take a little drink. Some of them will 
say no, I do not want it; they go on till they come to another house, 
where they find more of the same kind of drink; it is there offered again; 
they refuse, and again the third time; but finally the fourth or fifth 
time, one accepts of it, and takes a drink, and getting one he wants 
another, and then a third, and a fourth, till his senses have left him. 
After his reason comes back again to him, when he gets up and finds where 
he is — he asks for his peltry — the answer is, ' You have drank them' — 
Where is my gun? ' It is gone' — Where is my shirt? ' You have sold it 
for whiskey!' Now brothers, figure to yourselves what condition this 
man must be in. He has a family at home — a wife and children who 
stand in need of the profits of his hunting. What must be their wants, 
when he himself is even without a shirt." 



102 

These chiefs appeared to be much rejoiced at the assistance Friends 
proposed to render them, and in reply to that part of their communi- 
cation, observed, ' that it was their anxious wish to engage in the cul- 
ture of their lands, for although the game was not so scarce but that 
they could get enough to eat, yet they were sensible it was daily dimi- 
nishing, and that the time was not far distant, when they would be 
compelled to take hold of such tools, as they saw in the hands of the 
white people.' 

The committee, from their former experience, being of the judgment, 
that no great progress could be made in the civilization of the Indians 
while they were so abundantly supplied with distilled spirits, concluded 
to address congress on the subject. Their memorial was favourably 
received, and a law passed, which in some measure provided a remedy 
for the evil. 

As it now appeared to the committee, that the principal obstruction 
to agriculture amongst the Indians was removed, they were encouraged 
to proceed in their undertaking. They accordingly provided a number 
of implements of husbandry, such as ploughs, hoes, axes, &c. &c. which 
were forwarded and immediately distributed, as a present from the 
society of Friends. These things were thankfully received by the 
Indians. 

A letter in the summer of 1803, from the agent for Indian affairs at 
Fort Wayne, informed, that ' since there had been no spirituous liquor in 
the Indian country, they appeared very industrious, and turned their 
attention to raising stock.' This agent also expressed as his opinion, 
" that the suppression of spirituous liquors in that country, was the most 
beneficial measure which had ever been adopted for them, by the 
United States — that there had not been one Indian killed in that neigh- 
bourhood for a year — and that in no preceding year since the treaty of 
Grenville, had there been less than ten killed, and in some years as 
many as thirty." The agent further added, " that the Indians appeared 
very desirous of procuring for themselves, the necessaries of life, in our 
way, but say they do not know how to begin. Some of their old men 
say, " the white people want for nothing." We wish them to show us 
how to provide the many good things we see amongst them, if it is 
their wish to instruct us in their way of living as they tell us it is, we 
wish them to make haste and do it, for we are old and must die soon ; 
but we wish to see before we die, our women and children in that path, 
that will lead them to happiness. 

At the same time, a letter was received from the Little Turtle, and 
Five Medals, in which they expressed a wish that some Friends would 
visit their country. The committee, therefore, deputed some of their 
number for that purpose. They were authorized to procure one or 



103 

more suitable persons to reside amongst the Indians, for the purpose of 
teaching them agriculture and other useful knowledge, as far as it 
should appear practicable. 

In Second month 1804, two of the deputation proceeded to Fort 
Wayne, accompanied by Philip Dennis, who had offered his services to 
go with them, and remain with the Indians during the summer, for the 
purpose of instructing them in husbandry. They took with them two 
horses to be employed in ploughing, &c. 

They arrived at Fort Wayne in the latter end of the Third month, 
and soon after, convened several of their chiefs in a council with them; 
a future day was fixed upon for the committee to meet them, with as 
many of their old men, and their women and children as could be as- 
sembled. Their chiefs previously requested, that whatever matter 
Friends might have to communicate to the Indians, should be written 
down, in order that they might lay it before the grand council in the 
Sixth month following, to the attendance of which, they pressingly in- 
vited the committee. 

On the day appointed, being met by a considerable number of the 
natives, the committee presented them with a written address, from 
which, though all excellent, and well calculated to impress the Indians' 
minds with the importance of adhering to their counsel, we shall, for 
brevity, content ourselves with extracting some of the most material 
parts, as follows: 

" Brothers, our hearts are filled with thankfulness to the Great Spirit, 
that he has brought us safely to the country of our red brethren, and 
protected us through our journey. We also rejoice, that he has given us 
this opportunity of seeing you and of taking you by the hand. 

" Brothers, we had for some time entertained apprehensions that the 
many changes that were taking place in circumstances, must greatly 
change the situation of our red brethren, and that the time was fast 
approaching when it would be necessary for them to alter their mode of 
living. 

" Brothers, after our talk with the chiefs, (alluding to the Little Tur- 
tle and others whom we have just mentioned,) we were fully convinced 
that the time was come, in which our red brethren ought to begin 
to cultivate their lands. That they ought to raise corn and other grain, 
also horses, cows, sheep, hogs, and other animals. We then proposed 
to afford them some assistance. They appeared to be glad of the pro- 
posal, and informed us, that many of their people were disposed to turn 
their attention to the cultivation of the earth — they also expre-=ed a 
desire to be assisted by their brothers of Baltimore. 

" Brothers, it is for this purpose that we have now come, and we 



104 

again repeat, we rejoice that we have this opportunity of seeing you, 
and taking you by the hand. 

" Brothers, in coming into the country of our red brethren, we have 
come with our eyes open. And although we are affected with sorrow, 
in believing that many of the red people suffer much for the want of 
food and clothing, yet our hearts have been made glad, in seeing that 
it has pleased the Great Spirit to give you a rich and valuable country. 
Because we know, that it is out of' the earth that food and clothing 
come. We arc sure, brothers, that with but little labour and attention, 
you may raise much more corn and other grain than will be necessary 
for yourselves, your women and children; and that you may also with 
great ease, raise many more horses, cows, sheep, hogs and other valu- 
able animals, than will be necessary for your own use. We are also 
confident that if you will pursue our method in the cultivation of your 
land, you will live in much greater ease and plenty, and with much less 
fatigue and toil, than attend hunting for a subsistence. 

" Brothers, it will lead you to have fixed homes — you will build com- 
fortable dwelling houses for yourselves, your women and children, where 
you may be sheltered from the rain, the frost and the snow, and where 
you may enjoy in plenty, the rewards of your labour. 

" Brothers, we will hefe mention, that the time was, when the fore- 
father of your brothers, the white people, lived beyond the great water, 
in the same manner that our red brethren now live. The winters can 
yet be counted when they went almost naked, when they procured 
their living by fishing, and by the bow and arrow in hunting — and 
when they lived in houses no better than yours. They were encour- 
aged by some who came from towards the sun rising, and lived amongst 
them to change their mode of living. They did change — they cultivated 
the earth, and we are sure the change was a happy one. 

" Brothers and friends, we are not ashamed to acknowledge that the 
time was, when our forefathers rejoiced at finding a wild plum tree, or 
at killing a little game, and that they wandered up and down, living on 
the uncertain supplies of fishing and hunting. But brothers, for your 
encouragement we now mention that by turning their attention to the 
cultivation of the earth instead of the plum tree, they* soon had or- 
chards of many kinds of fruit — instead of the wild game they soon had 
large numbers of cattle, horses, sheep, hogs, and other valuable animals 
— and in many places instead of their forests they had large fields of 
corn, and other grain — also many other valuable productions of the 
earth. 

" Brothers, we have spoken plainly, we desire to speak plain— we 
will now tell you that we have not come merely to talk with you. We 
have come prepared to render you a little assistance. Our beloved 



105 

brother, Philip Dennis, who is now present, has come along with us. 
His desire is, to cultivate for you, a field of corn, and also to show you 
how to raise some of the other productions of the earth — he knows how 
to use the plough, the hoe, the axe, and other implements of husbandry. 

" Brothers, he has left a farm — he has left a wife and five small 
children who are very dear to him — he has come, from a sincere desire 
to be useful to our red brethren. His motives are pure — he will ask 
no reward from you for his services — his greatest reward will be, in the 
satisfaction he will feel, in finding you inclined to take hold of the same 
tools he takes hold of — to receive from him instruction in the cultiva- 
tion of your lands, and pursue the example he will set you. 

" Brothers we hope you will make the situation of our brother as 
comfortable as circumstances will admit. We hope, also, that many 
of your young men will be willing to be taught by him, to use the 
plough, the hoe, and other implements of husbandry — for we are sure, 
brothers, that as you take hold of such tools as are in the hands of the 
white people, you will find them to be to you, like having additional 
hands. You will also find that by using them they will enable you to 
do many things, which without them, cannot be performed. 

" Brothers, the white people, in order to get their land cultivated, 
find it necessary that their young men should be employed in it — and 
not their women — women are smaller than men — they are not as strong 
as men. It is the business of our women to be employed in our houses — ■ 
to keep them clean — to sow, knit, spin, and weave — to dress food for 
themselves and families — to make clothes for the men and the rest of 
their families, to keep the clothing of their families clean, and to take 
care of their children. 

" Brothers, we are fully convinced that if you will turn your atten- 
tion to the cultivation of the earth, to raising the different kinds of 
grain — to building comfortable dwelling houses for your families — to 
raising useful animals — amongst others, sheep for the advantage of the 
wool, in making clothing — to raising flax and hemp for your linen — 
and your women learn to spin and weave — your lives will be much 
easier and happier than at present — and your numbers will increase, 
and not continue to diminish. As we before observed, brothers, your 
land is good — it is far better than the land which the white people near 
the great waters, cultivate. We are persuaded that your land will 
produce double the quantity of any kind of grain, or flax, or hemp, with 
the same labour necessary near the great water. 

" Brothers, we shall now end what we had to say, with informing 

you, that all the corn and other productions of the earth which Philip 

Dennis may raise, we wish our red brethren to accept as a token of 

our friendship. And it is our desire that the chiefs of the Potlowatta- 

14 



106 

mie and Miami nations who are now present, added to our brothers the 
Five Medals, Tuthinipee, and Philip Dennis, make such a distribution 
thereof as they may think proper." 

The Indians manifested great decorum, and were very attentive 
during the delivery of this address — in reply to which, the Little Turtle 
delivered a speech on behalf of the council, from which we extract the 
following: 

" Brothers and friends — we rejoice that the Great Spirit has ap- 
pointed, that we should meet this day, for we believe this meeting will 
be of the utmost consequence to your red brethren. 

" Brothers, the things which you have said to us, require our greatest 
attention: it is really necessary that we should deliberate upon them. In 
order to do so, we must beg you to leave the paper, upon which they 
are written, that we may communicate them to our chiefs, when they 
assemble in grand council. 

" Brothers, you have been very particular in pointing out to us the 
duties of our women, and you have told us that in adopting your mode 
of living, our numbers would increase and not continue to diminish. In 
all this I certainly agree with you, and I hope my brother chiefs will 
also agree with you. 

" Brothers, assure your people who sent you here — tell your old chiefs 
that we are obliged to them for their friendly offers to assist us in 
changing our present mode of living. Tell them it is a great work that 
cannot be done immediately; but that we are favourably disposed, and 
hope it will take place gradually." 

These Friends remained several weeks amongst the Indians, during 
which time they visited a number of their towns and villages, at all of 
which, they were received in the most friendly and hospitable manner. 

In the course of their journey, they passed by a settlement of the 
Wyandots at Brownstown or the rock. They found that the Indians 
at this place, had, since the visit made by Friends to their nation in the 
year 1799, advanced considerably, in agriculture, many of them having 
built comfortable houses, and acquired a considerable number of cattle, 
hogs, and other domestic animals. The Wyandots residing at Sandusky 
and the Shawaneese, on the Auglaize river, had likewise, since that 
visit, turned their attention very much towards the cultivation of their 
lands; Friends had, therefore, the satisfaction to remark, that the com- 
munication from the committee to these nations, and the exertions which 
had been made to turn their attention to agriculture, although limited 
in their effect, had not been altogether unavailing. 

They also visited the place fixed upon for the settlement of Philip 



107 

Dennis, on the Wabash river, about forty miles south-west of Fort 
Wayne, and found its situation to be very advantageous for farming ; 
the soil appeared to be equal in fertility to any land in the western 
country. 

Soon after the return of the Friends, a letter was received by the 
committee, from the Indian agent at Fort Wayne, informing that the 
Indians had held their grand council in the Sixth month, agreeably to 
expectation, at which eight hundred and seventy-four of them attend- 
ed, when the written address of Friends delivered at Fort Wayne in the 
previous spring, was produced — read and interpreted to all the different 
nations present. In reply to which, divers of their chiefs expressed 
great satisfaction, and amongst others Toethteboxie on behalf of the 
Delawares said, ' For many years before I came into the world, the 
white people have been offering to do for us what is now mentioned, 
and it appears that our eyes were never opened until this time; we 
will now take hold of it and receive it. I am an old man and want to 
see it before I die; if I once see it, I will die in peace, to think I have 
left my women and children in comfort.' 

On the return of Philip Dennis, who remained in the Indian country 
during most of the year 1804, and spent his time agreeably with the 
natives — he informed that he had raised about four hundred bushels 
of corn, besides a quantity of turnips, potatoes, and a quantity of other 
garden vegetables, which he directed to be divided amongst the Indians 
on their return from their hunting camps. He left with the Indians, 
with whom he had resided, upon the farm he had cultivated, twenty- 
three hogs and pigs, seven of which w r ere in good order to kill ; and 
he engaged the agent to attend to killing and salting them. They were 
small when they were brought to the farm in the spring, and had no 
other food than what they gathered in the woods. 

With some assistance which he obtained from Fort Wayne, he clear- 
ed and enclosed under a substantial fence twenty acres of ground, and 
built a house thirty-two feet long, and seventeen wide, a story and a 
half high, with floors and partitions. 

The Indians who remained with him had been very industrious, and 
attended to his directions. The young women wished to work in pre- 
paring the ground and in tending the corn; from this he dissuaded them, 
and as some spinning wheels had just arrived at Fort Wayne, which 
had been sent on by government — he encouraged them to go there, and 
learn to spin and knit, of a white woman who was at that place; — this 
they did, and soon learned both to spin and knit; and when he came 
away, he left them knitting yarn of their spinning. 

The Indians were very desirous of Friends continuing their care to- 
wards them, and that they should send a person to take the place of 



108 

Philip Dennis, but as no suitable Friend offered for that purpose, it was 
believed best to request the agent of government residing at Fort Wayne, 
(and who appeared to be friendly disposed towards the views of Friends,) 
to procure and employ the most suitable person he could, in that coun- 
try, to plough the land cultivated by Philip Dennis, the last season, and 
plant it in corn, and to endeavour to enlist the service of the Indians in 
the labour of tending it; also to prepare a garden of the most useful 
vegetables for the Indians' use, which they might afterwards easily 
manage. 

In reply to this request, Friends received an account from the agent, 
stating that he would lose no time in complying with their request, and 
that he was ready at all times, to put in execution the benevolent de- 
signs of Friends towards the Indians, as far as it was in his power. 

He also mentioned, that at that time, ' a spirit of industry existed 
amongst the Indians generally, and that as several of the tribes had 
requested of government to have a part of their annuities expended in 
the employment of men to split rails and make fences for them, the 
Delawares had twenty-three thousand rails put up into fences the last 
winter; and that forty thousand more would be made into fences for the 
Miami and Eel river Indians, by the first of the Sixth month — that ten 
families of the Miamis had settled adjoining the place cultivated by 
Philip Dennis, and that four men were employed in making rails to 
fence in forty acres for them; also, that three persons more were at 
work for the Eel river Indians, half a mile below Dennis's station; that 
they had twenty-five acres cleared and ready for the plough, and ex- 
pected to have fifty or sixty fenced in by the first of the Sixth month. 
He expected at least twenty-five families would remove to reside at 
that place the present season, and was confident the settlement would 
increase very fast. The Indian who worked with Philip Dennis during 
the last season, was about building himself a comfortable house, had 
cleared two acres more of ground, and was ploughing the field previ- 
ously cleared by Philip Dennis. The hogs which were left there with 
him had increased to one hundred in number. 

The agent further informed, 'that there would be one hundred acres of 
land under good fence at the Little Turtle's town, (eighteen miles north 
of Dennis's station,) by the first of the Sixth month, where they had also 
obtained a large number of hogs and some cows, and he doubted not, 
the Indians would soon see that it was easier to raise food, than to pro- 
cure it by hunting.' He also added, ' that Friends may see from the great 
progress they have made in civilization since Philip Dennis was with 
them, that they only want good and suitable men to reside among them, 
and teach them how to work.' 

In the fall of the year 1805, the agent at Fort Wayne 'informed the 



109 

committee by letter, that agreeably to their directions, he had employ- 
ed a man to assist the Indians in cultivating the field on the Wabash, 
which was cleared and cultivated by Philip Dennis, the last year. The 
Indians with this man's assistance, had raised, it was supposed, at least 
six hundred bushels of good corn from this one field, exclusive of what 
they had raised from ground of their own clearing. 

" Many of the oldest of the Eel River and Weas Indians had removed 
and settled at that place, where they would be followed by the younger 
branches of their tribes in the ensuing spring." 

He further adds, "Believing as I do that the society of Friends are 
desirous of ameliorating the situation of their red brethren in the coun- 
try, I will take the liberty to observe, that the present is a favourable 
time to put in execution their benevolent views towards the distressed 
natives of the land; and that much good may be done on the Wabash 
by sending one or two suitable men to reside amongst the Indians, and 
teach them how to raise stock, and cultivate the earth. Witness what 
Philip Dennis effected amongst them the last year, at a station where 
he had every thing to begin. There are now at least four hundred hogs, 
and twenty cows, and the Indians at no village in this country live so 
comfortably as those at that place. If this spirit of industry is kept 
alive for a few years, it will certainly have a powerful influence upon 
the minds of the Indians in many of the neighbouring villages." 

An account published by the committee of Baltimore Yearly Meeting, 
about this period, has enabled me to furnish so many interesting parti- 
culars of their proceedings, that I have already exceeded the bounds I 
had prescribed to myself, in this narrative. I shall, therefore, only add, 
that the Yearly Meeting of Baltimore continued for many years to ex- 
tend aid and instruction, to the Indians in that quarter, by personal 
visits, and by teachers frequently stationed among them; and continued 
to have satisfactory proofs of the benefits derived to this people, from 
their benevolent labours. Their progress, however, in this laudable 
work was interrupted by the war of 1812, which much agitated, not 
only those tribes of Indians, but the white people generally, bordering 
on the Indian territory — this continued while the war lasted. And 
many of the white inhabitants, it was said, went into block houses, the 
better to secure themselves. 

It may, however, be noted, that Friends on the frontiers, generally 
remained in their habitations, at least with a few exceptions, and the 
Indians seemed to repose an unlimited confidence in them, and fre- 
quently visited them. The author having visited a settlement of the 
Indians, (called Lewis' settlement) in the year 1816, had some oppor- 
tunity of judging of the high estimation in which the Indians held the 
society of Friends, on the frontiers of that country. He also had an 



110 

account from one of the Friends who first settled in those parts (near 
Mad river,) about the year 1800. He said the Indians manifested much 
kindness to them, when the country was all a wilderness, by frequently 
visiting them, and administering to their wants, while they were first 
opening a settlement and preparing something to subsist upon. 

I may also here relate another evidence of the Indians' kindness and 
hospitality to the whites. A surveyor who lived in Chilicothe informed 
me, when at his house in 1816, that being employed by government 
the summer previous, to survey some land in the Michigan territory, he 
and his company composed of seven or eight persons, running scant of 
provisions, were put to their allowance of a spoonful of meal a day, for 
each person, on which, with some little meat they procured from the 
forest, they had subsisted for twenty-three days together. But setting 
out at length towards the settlements in search of provisions, they met 
with an Indian going on a journey very smartly. They made him un- 
derstand they were very hungry and had nothing to eat. He looked 
on them with compassion — pointed towards his cabin, and making signs 
to them to follow him, struck oil" in a direction towards it. They pursued 
his track, often having to stop him, to wait for them, and after about 
eight miles travelling, arrived at his solitary abode, where he kindly 
treated them to all the provision at his command, which, though coarse, 
was to them a delicious dainty. 

But to return from this digression, it may be proper to state, that 
about the year 1813, a Yearly Meeting of Friends was established in 
the state of Ohio, and being composed of part of the members previ- 
ously constituting the Yearly Meeting of Baltimore, they also become, 
as a body, enlisted in the same concern, to improve the condition of the 
Indian nations; and appointed a committee to carry their views into 
execution. Friends of this Yearly Meeting living more contiguous to 
the Indian settlements, unitedly agreed with the Yearly Meeting of 
Baltimore, to make it a joint concern, as it regarded the requisite pecu- 
niary aid for promoting the object in view. Friends in Ohio, however, 
became more actively engaged in personal visits, and sending instruct- 
ors among the Indians. 

When peace took place, and the minds of the Indians became some- 
what settled, the settlement which had previously been made at 
Waughpaughkannatta was again resumed, and another promoted at 
captain Lewis', and considerable advancement made by the Indians in 
some of the arts of civilized life. 

About the years 1817 and 1818, considerable sales of their lands were 
made in the United States — and in the north-western parts of the state 
of Ohio, which much unsettled the minds of the Indians, and in conse- 
quence thereof, many of them removed further to the westward. 



Ill 

In the rapid settlement of the states of Ohio and Indiana, and the 
emigration of Friends further to the westward, it became necessary to 
establish a Yearly Meeting in Indiana, which event took place about 
the year 1820 or 1821. This Yearly Meeting, also as a body, feeling 
the same deep interest, in the welfare of the aboriginal inhabitants, 
appointed a committee to unite with Ohio Yearly Meeting in promoting 
their civilization and improvement. 

Having but scanty means within my reach, of ascertaining the pro- 
gress made by those Yearly Meetings of latter years, I can only state, 
that the concern still continues to engage their attention, and from a 
report to the Yearly Meeting of Indiana, in 1826, it appears, that the 
committee had continued their attention to the object of their appoint- 
ment. " Soon after our last Yearly Meeting," say they, " the school 
for the education of the Indian children was resumed, and continued 
about two months, to the satisfaction both of the Indians and the com- 
mittee. The children conducted themselves orderly, and made rea- 
sonable progress in learning. But towards the latter part of winter the 
Indians became unsettled in their minds, and it was found impractica- 
ble to continue the school to advantage. It was, therefore, dismissed, 
and soon after Isaac Harkey and wife, in consequence of his indisposi- 
tion, returned to their former residence. They took with them an In- 
dian lad who remained about three months, during which time he was 
at school. 

"About two hundred of the Indians who resided on the Waugh- 
paughkonnatta reserve, have removed, and are now on their way to 
join those of their nation settled west of the Mississippi ; and it is yet 
uncertain, whether those that remain will shortly be in a situation to 
receive instruction. However that may be, we feel satisfied that the 
labour heretofore bestowed on them will not all be lost. They have 
obtained a sufficient knowledge of agriculture, to enable them to supply 
their more pressing wants, and many of them have acquired habits of 
industry, which we believe they will retain. And should they all even- 
tually remove to join their nation in the west, we apprehend the ad- 
vantages they are deriving from the change in their manner of life, 
will be sufficient to prevent them from returning to their former 
habits." 

It appears also, that soon after the Yearly Meeting held in Indiana, 
in the year 1827, " a deputation from the committee in company with 
a like deputation of the committee of Ohio Yearly Meeting, visited 
Friends' establishment, near Waughpaughkonnatta, who found the farm 
in good order, and the school progressing to satisfaction." 

The minutes of the last Indiana Yearly Meeting of the society of 
Friends, held at Miami, also show, that they continue a committee, to 



112 

act in conjunction with the Yearly Meetings of Ohio and Baltimore, 
and to proceed in the further prosecution of this concern as way may 
open. 

Thus the society of Friends constituting the Yearly Meetings of Phi- 
ladelphia, New York, and Baltimore, have, for more than thirty years, 
and those of Ohio, and Indiana, since their first establishment, been en- 
gaged in endeavouring to reclaim from savage life, and to meliorate the 
condition of various tribes, of the interesting but much injured aborigines 
of our country; and they have succeeded in instructing many of them 
in agriculture, in school learning, in many of the most useful mechanic 
arts, and the raising of domestic animals, whereby their lives are ren- 
dered more comfortable, and their domestic engagements increased, as 
well as their moral condition improved — and, could the Indians have 
been permitted to remain quiet in the possession of their land, and to 
enjoy the fruits of their labours, without interruption from the whites, 
there is reason to believe, that by a continuation and extension of this 
care towards them, a radical change in their character would in a short 
time have been effected; and instead of migrating by families and tribes, 
far to the westward, and traversing the dreary regions of an unknown 
wilderness, in quest of a home, and in search of food, they might have 
become useful citizens of the community, contributing to the wealth, 
the happiness, and national character of the United States. For truly 
it must be acknowledged, that there are among these native sons of the 
forest, men of deep reflection — men of extraordinary talents — men of 
superior powers of mind, and men who, considering the means of their 
mental improvement, might rank with the ancient orators of Greece 
and Rome. Added to this, there is sufficient evidence, that they believe 
in the principle operating within them, a measure of which, or the 
grace of God, according to the apostle's doctrine, is given to every man 
to profit withal, whether Jew or Gentile, bond or free. And they ac- 
knowledge in all important transactions, the overruling providence and 
superintending care of one all-wise, omnipotent, and omnipresent Being, 
who governs the universe; and they believe that they will be rewarded 
in a future state, according as their actions have been in this life, either 
good or evil. Why then should not the policy of the government be 
directed to the protection and preservation of these people, and not to 
their extermination from their native soil? Is it not a doctrine sanction- 
ed by the general consent of christians, that all nations are equally 
free? That one nation has no right to infringe upon the freedom of 
another ? 

Let us then fulfil the golden rule — let us then, my fellow citizens, 
exercise that kind of policy towards them, that we would they should 
have done to us, if they had landed on our shores with a superiority of 



113 

strength. Why should not things be equal on both sides? Or is the 
balance of power always to decide the balance of justice, and rob the 
weak and defenceless of their lawful rights — shall a nation professing 
Christianity, and having pledged itself in the most solemn manner to 
protect the Indians in all their rights, be guilty of such injustice? 
Or what part of the gospel will they plead in extenuation of such a 
crime? In what part of the earth did the apostles or first promulgators 
of the gospel assume, to extirpate from their country, or to claim a 
right over the freedom and the substance of the Gentiles ? What a 
strange method this would be, of propagating the gospel of peace. And 
can it be expected the natives of America, those keen-eyed observers 
of the actions of men, will be brought to embrace the christian religion 
by such a policy as this! And, while injustice is practised towards them 
instead of the government redressing their wrongs, will they not be in- 
duced to say as an Indian chief once did, to a missionary, on a certain 
occasion, " We find the christians much more depraved in their morals 
than we are, and we judge of their doctrine by the badness of their 
lives." 



Since the foregoing was prepared for the press, the following, taken 
from a Pittsburg Gazette, has been forwarded by a friend, 
and as it gives some recent account of the noted and ancient chief, 
Cornplanter, as well as other of the Seneca Indians, it may prove 
an interesting addition to this work. 

It appears a trip was performed up the Alleghany river in the Fifth 
month last, as high as Olean, in the state of New York, by a new 
steamboat, and as it was the first that had ever ascended that river, 
as far as the Indian towns, it excited some astonisment. The account 
states, that " On the thirteenth of May, at nine o'clock, she arrived op- 
posite the village of Cornplanter. Here a deputation waited on that 
ancient and well known Indian king or chief, and invited him on board 
this new, and to him wonderful visiter, a steamboat. We found him 
in all his native simplicity of dress and manner of living, lying on his 
couch, made of rough pine boards, and covered with deer skins and 
blankets. His habitation, a two story log house, is in a state of decay, 
without furniture, except a few benches, and wooden bowls and spoons 
to eat out of. This convinced us of his determination to retain old habits 
and customs. This venerable old chief was a lad in the first French 
15 



114 

war, in 1744, and is now nearly one hundred years of age. He is a smart 
active man, seemingly possessed of all his strength of mind, and in per- 
fect health, and retains among his nation all that uncontrolled influence 
he has ever done. 

" He, with his son Charles, sixty years of age, and his son-in-law, came 
on board, and remained until she had passed six miles up, and then 
they returned home in their own canoe, after expressing great plea- 
sure. His domain is a delightful bottom of rich land, two miles* square, 
nearly adjoining the line between Pennsylvania and New York. On 
this, his own family, about fifty in number, in eight or ten houses re- 
side. Cornplanter's wife, and her mother, one hundred and fifteen years 
of age, are in good health. 

The lands of this tribe being forty miles long and half a mile wide 
on each side of the river, lie just above, but all in the state of New 
York. They have a number of villages, and are about seven hundred 
in number, scattered all along this reserve. Many of them have good 
dwellings, and, like the whites, some are intelligent, industrious, and 
useful — while others are the reverse. On the whole they are becoming 
civilized and christianized, as fast as can be expected. The natives 
appeared in great numbers, (we counted four hundred) who were at- 
tracted to view this unexpected sight on their waters. Their lands 
terminate eight miles below Olean." 



Jl vocabulary of some of the most familiar words and phrases in, 
the Seneca language, and the English, in alphabetical order. 



All 


Cock way go 


All gone 


Ono, cock way go 


Anv where, any thing, &c. 


Te caw a noo we 


A quiet mind 


Ska no sa na to nee 


Axe 


At too ga 


Boy or child 


Uc shaiu 


Brother 


Hogh gee 


Blood 


Ot quoon sah 


Board 


Con nish ta 


Bear 


U qui 


Black 


Gis taa 


Beaver 


Te con ne a ga 


Big lake 


Con nu di go wan nee 


Birds 


Ge daa 


Bread 


fVagh qua 



* I apprehend there is some mistake in the account given, of the quantity of land 
possessed bv Cornplanter. Hy the act of assembly, it appears six hundred acres was 
the quantity located at that place. — Ed. 



115 



Beans 

Beyond 

Both 

Book 

Blanket 

Bed 

Barrel or tub 

Blacksmith 

Bad 

Cold 

Cow 

Cat 

Child 

Cousin 

Chief 

Cannon 

Coat 

Chest 

Cup 

Candle 

Canoe 

Chocolate 

Crane 

Deer 

Duck 

Dead 

Devil 

Dog 

Dish 

Day 

Drink 

Dark 

Do you want it 

Earth 

Elk 

Eel 

Eat 

Eye 

Ear 

Evening, or sun down 

Father 

Field 

Farmer 

Fox 

Fish 

Fire 

Flour or meal 

Fruit 

Flea 

Fine day 



Ci daw 

Shee qua 

Be jail 

Ki au dau shaw 

Ee yuse 

Con noch ta 

Con noch qua 

Cow wish to nee 

Toos coss 

Hit too a 

Tus quart 

Dae coos 

Uc shaw 

Kaa say 

Shin e wan nee 

Ca u da go aw 

Ja dau wis a 

Count sah 

Cow wish ta 

Ogish to laugh qua 

Cau waugh 

Nig a di u 

Jo a sah 

Nea yu ka 

Se wack 

A way yu 

Nishe o nee 

Gee ah 

Cud gee 

XJdaugh 

Nig ge ah 

U dagh sin di go 

Ees no wees 

U enjau dy 

Je naun de 

Con taa na 

Suite coo nee 

Ka haa 

Woun tah 

Ono gagh qua 

Hau nee 

K ion to 

E yeant has 

O nung quat qua 

Kin j ugh 

O gish ta 

Tee sah 

O yah 

Te was en tas 

O we see ah 



11G 



Fire-fly 


Gish te noch qua 


God, or Great Spirit 


How wau ne au 


Grandmother 


Uc sute 


Good 


Scoss 


Grist-mill 


Cau thish e o ne 


Gnat 


gaw whont 


Gun 


Ca u da 


Greedy 


Dus ki hau sy 


Gift 


Ska no 


House 


Con ne sute 


Horse 


Con don nah que 


Hungry 


A dus swa dau nee 


High 


Eait kah 


Here in this place 


Nich hooh 


Him or her 


Au whau 


Hear 


Gut hoon dy 


Happy 


Ska no so ne to nee 


Hat or cap 


Kah e quay 


Hand 


Kas chuch tah 


Half 


Sut te wau so nee 


How many 


Ton ne yu 


How many miles 


Ton ne yute cot ho 


Hawk 


Swin go dau ge au 


Have you any, &c. 


Goih yah 


Indians 


A gue o we 


Indian corn 


ne ah 


If 


Cow a. nee 


I myself 


Ee 


I don't know 


Te quaw 


I think 


E we 


Island 


Cow we naut 


Iron 


Con ne u sah 


Ice 


we sa 


I don't understand 


Te gunk hau 


I want it 


Ic no wees 


I am going now 


Ono se gogh tan dee 


Iron pot 


Te quosh e naute 


King 


Co wa co a 


Kettle 


Can natmjau 


Knife 


Ka g-ww ne au sau 


Land 


U.axmja 


Louse 


Gee no e 


Lonesome 


A goon date 


Lake, or sea 


Con nu eft 


Lie 


Sun noo aunt 


Large 


Go t#aw nee 


Long ago 


nuc/i chec 


Little, or small 


Nee wow, or wis too 


Little while ago 


fFaw gee 


Linen 


Con ne ga un sah 



11 



Like this 

Log 

Man or male 

Mother 

Many 

Much 

Meat 

Mosquito 

Mush 

Mountain 

Mile 

Money 

Merry, or pleased 

Milk 

Moon 

Mouth 

Morning 

Make it 

New town 

Noon 

No 

Now 

Not many 

Not much 

Not 

Nose 

Nonsense, trifling, &c. 

One month 

Owl 

Old 

Over the river 

On this side 

Philadelphia 

Pittsburg 

Pig 

Provisions 

Potatoes 

Plenty 

Pipe 

Pretty 

Pheasant 

Pigeons 

Presently 

People 

Rain 

River 

Racoon 

Rattlesnake 

Right, or proper 

Raining, or stormy 



Sau gat 

Cau hagh tau 

Cau gee nah 

No yegh 

Con nong gee 

We sue 

Au wagh 

Ge ne au da sa 

Gis qua 

Non on dau dee 

Yute cot hoo 

O wish ta 

Oon dut ca dee 

Nung qua 

Gagh qua 

Kish e gaen 

Se tugh ge au 

Slash she o ne 

Can na da say 

Gick ne gah quaw 

Tah 

Nay wau 

Tanty co nong gee 

Tanty we sue 

Tanty 

Ka kan dah 

Gish nit 

Swa no dock 

Ehe 

Caw cuch gee 

Ska hoon dee 

Caw oo 

Ca ne dl an go au 

Taun too ga 

Quees quees 

A den a sah 

Non nun dau 

Con nong gee 

Sc g-waA ta 

We u 

Chuc que « ne 

Jah go au 

A ge quash 

Ung que 

Us /aim dee 

Ka hone dee 

Jo ah qua 

So quant 

Ty wi ye a 

Onish wy ate. kah 



118 



Sea, or ocean 

Shoes, or sandals 

Sun 

Squashes, &c. 

Sheep 

Stone 

Spinning wheel 

Saw mill 

Sick 

Strong 

Star 

Sit down 

Snow 

Snow falling 

Spoon 

See, or look 

Silver 

Shut the door 

Snipe 

Shoemaker 

Susquehanna 

Turkey 

Thief 

Turnips 

Town 

Tobacco 

Turtle 

This 

Thou 

Tooth, or teeth 

Tell it 

Talk 

True, or truth 

To-morrow 

Uncle 

Ugly 

Verily, or very true 

Very large 

Very far 

Winter 

Water 

Woods 

Wheat 

Weeds 

Wolf 

Wild geese 

Watch 

White people 

Warm 

Warm day 



Ska ne la te co ne 

At tagh qua 

Gagh qua 

O nuch sha 

Te de ne gen do 

Cos quagh 

See in yeah ta 

Con nish te o nee 

Nonk ta nee 

Cau haus tee 

O gish un da 

Sut tee 

Cun ne * 

U gaun dee 

At te quot sa 

Sut cot hoo 

O wish ta no e a 

Se ho tong goo 

Te ith to we 

At taugh qua nee 

Cau wa ne toy ne t ne 

Os soo aunt 

Nus qus 

Uc te au 

Con na da go 

Yaun gwa 

Cun ne wau 

Nick hoo 

Eece 

Ca noo jah 

Sat hu e 

Gish nee 

Togas 

U haut 

Auh no ze 

Wy ate u 

To gas neh hue 

Jigos go wan nee 

Way uh 

Ka unch neh 

iWc& a rcoos 

Ca ha da go 

O naun jah 

We «aA ta 

Ty o nee 

Hung £•«*£& 

Gah que shawk ta 

Hit teen yah 

Zttu 

Con waa no 



119 

Woman Yee uh 

Wife Yeak nee 

Wind Get haa 

Work Sutte ye dott 

Want. I want it, &c. Ick no eece 

Where Cong gwa 

Yonder Ho quaw 

You Eece de jal 

Yes Naye 

You want it Eece no wees 

Year Tush shate 

Yesterday Tay day 

Names of some of the Indians, and their signijjpation. 

Ki on twa ky Cornplanter 

Te ki on da A wager, or money staked 

Con ne di u Hansom lake 

Neh ta go a A large pine tree 

Waun dung guh ta Passed by 

Sa go e wah ta Keeper arise 

O gish quat ta Dried mush 

Tak e wau sah Go to war 

Twa de ac Broken gun 

Yeang gwa haunt Chew tobacco 

Ki an gwah ta Smoke 

Numerical terms, SfC. 



One 


Scote 


Two 


Tick nee 


Three 


Shaugh 


Four 


Keah 


Five 


Wush 


Six 


Yeah 


Seven 


Chaw tawk 


Eight 


Tick yugh 


Nine 


Tugh tah 


Ten 


Wush hau 


Twenty 


Te was hau 


Thirty 


Sha ne was hau 


Forty 


Kea ne was hau 


Fifty 


Wush ne was hau 


Sixty 


Yea ne was hau 


Seventy 


Chaw tawk ne was hau 


Eighty 


Tick yaugh ne was hau 


Ninety 


Tugh ta ne was hau 


One hundred, that is, ten 


Wush haw ne was haw, or scote 


times ten 


de ivy ne i 


Two hundred 


Te non de ivy ne i 


Three hundred 


Sha non de toy ne i 


Four hundred 


Keah non de ivy ne i, &c. &c. 



120 



One dollar 
Two dollars 
Three dollars 
Four dollars 
One penny 
One shilling 
Two shillings 
Three shillings 
One yard 
Two yards 
Three yards 
One pound 
Two pounds 
Three po#nds 
One quart 
Two quarts 
Three quarts 
One day 
Two days 
. Three days 
One month 
Two months 
Three months 
One year 
Two years 
Three years 



Scow wish taut 

Te gaw wish tau gay 

Sha ne gaw wish tau gay 

Kea ne gaw wish tau gay, Sic. 

Quin nish 

Sco ti on shate 

Te gash e on se gay 

Sha ne gash e on se gay 

Tu we naut 

Tic ne ju we non gay 

Sha ne ju we non gay 

Cau goon sate 

Tich ne cou goon se ga 

Sha ne cou goon se ga 

Cus saa dee 

Tick ne cus say dee 

Shane cus say dee 

Onish shate 

Te ne wa nish a gay 

Sha ne wa nish a gay 

Swa ne dock 

Te wa ne da gay 

Sha ne wau ne da gay 

Tush shate 

Te ush a gay 

Sha ne ush a gay, &c. 



The author not having an opportunity of examining the proof sheets, some typographical 
errors have occurred, especially in the Indian words — the following errata will he ob- 
served by the reader. 

Page 5, line 20 from top, before motives, insert the words natives the. 

Page 8, line 18 from bottom, for retaining read retained. 

Page 9, line 18 from top, read the following speech from. 

Page 29, line 14 from top, read Je nuch sha da go. 

Page 40, line 13 from top, for Memsies read Munsics. 

Page 42, line 6 from top, for Connedin read Co ne di u; and so through the book. 

Same page, line 4 from bottom, for government read governor. 

Page 47, line 7 from bottom, for Junesassa read Tunesassa; and so through the book. 

Page 54, line 20 from bottom, for nation read natives. 

Page 80, line 19 from bottom, read the chief warrior's son. 

Page 110, line 16 from top, for nations read natives. 

Same page, line 3 from bottom, for in, read to the United States. 

Page 111, line 20 from top, for llarkey read Harvey. 



